The BJP staged a walkout from the state Assembly on the fourth day of the budget session, protesting against the government's response to a question about financial transfers to mahila mandals in Dehra during the by-poll.
BJP MLA Ashish Sharma from Hamirpur raised the issue, stating that the Kangra Central Cooperative Bank transferred amounts between ₹50,000 and ₹1 lakh to multiple mahila mandals in Dehra during the by-election, which was won by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s wife, Kamlesh Thakur.
He demanded an inquiry by a central agency, calling it a serious violation of the model code of conduct.
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri responded that the information was being collected and questioned why the MLA was seeking details from the government when he already had them. He added that the government was not aware of bank account transactions.
Later, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur accused the government of deliberately hiding the information. He pointed out that the transactions happened while the model code of conduct was in place and were a clear violation. BJP MLAs gathered outside the Assembly, raising slogans demanding the cancellation of the Dehra by-poll.
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Thakur criticised the Deputy Chief Minister for attempting to deflect the issue by comparing it to the transfer of Kisan Samman Nidhi funds.
He argued that government schemes have pre-scheduled transactions, making them legitimate, whereas the funds given to the mahila mandals had no specific purpose and were not requested by them. He claimed the money was transferred to benefit the Congress candidate and had influenced the election outcome.
When asked whether BJP would challenge the by-poll results, Thakur said the party would review the matter, and the candidate had the right to contest the election outcome.
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