Former chief minister and Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur on Saturday targeted the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh over its choice of candidate for the Rajya Sabha seat, alleging that the state was being run amid instability and fear despite the party enjoying a clear majority in the Assembly.
Talking to mediapersons here, Thakur said the internal turmoil and uncertainty within the Congress clearly indicated a deep crisis of trust within the government. He said the BJP had taken a principled decision not to field a candidate for the Rajya Sabha election this time, which gave the Congress a clear opportunity. However, the confusion and internal contest within the Congress over the Rajya Sabha seat exposed its contradictions.
Thakur said that several senior Congress leaders travelled to Delhi to present their claim for the Rajya Sabha seat, while others were repeatedly assured by the Chief Minister that their names were under consideration. He said some leaders had even completed the formalities for filing nomination papers after being told they would receive the ticket, but the situation changed at the last moment, causing resentment within the party.
Referring to senior Congress leader Anand Sharma, Thakur said Sharma’s public expression of anguish reflected a lack of respect and communication within the party. He noted that Sharma had stated he always pursued politics with self-respect and was now paying the price for speaking the truth.
Thakur further alleged that the Himachal Pradesh government was being run not by the cabinet but by what he termed a “group of friends”. He claimed that key decisions were being taken outside formal cabinet meetings by a small group of close associates who decide who would benefit and who would be sidelined.
He also questioned the Congress nominee for the Rajya Sabha seat, who had been described as an ordinary party worker. Thakur said that according to the affidavit submitted during the nomination process, the candidate possessed assets worth over Rs 230 crore and also held contracts worth several crores under the present government. He said even Congress leaders were questioning how such a person could be described as an “ordinary worker”.
Thakur also criticised the functioning of the Chief Minister’s office, alleging that on some occasions official tour programmes were issued but later changed without proper information being shared with the administration or the public.
Criticising the Congress government’s repeated allegations against the previous BJP regime, Thakur said that during the BJP government’s five-year tenure, unprecedented development works were carried out in Himachal Pradesh. He said development projects worth over Rs 7,000 crore were implemented and nearly 4,700 kilometres of roads were constructed during that period. He added that schemes such as Himcare, Sahara and the Chief Minister Swavalamban Yojana were launched to support poor families and promote self-employment among youth.
He alleged that development activities had come to standstill under the present government, with road and drinking water projects stalled and the government inaugurating projects initiated during the previous BJP regime.
He also raised concerns over alleged corruption cases, including illegal tree felling in Sirmaur and Mandi districts. He said permission had been granted for cutting only 25 trees in one case, but more than 300 were reportedly felled. Thakur said if the government has the moral courage, it should take strict action against those responsible.
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