Manish Sisodia, the senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, made a combative return to Himachal Pradesh on Sunday, launching a scathing attack on the BJP-led central government. In his first visit to the state since his release from prison, Sisodia addressed a gathering of party workers in Mandi, where he accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of weaponising federal agencies to stifle AAP’s political expansion.
The veteran politician claimed that the party’s growing influence in Himachal prior to the last Assembly elections was exactly what triggered the interventions by the CBI and ED. He contended that the arrest of prominent citizens, including himself, Satyendar Jain, and Arvind Kejriwal, was not about justice but was instead a product of political revenge being sought by the opposition to halt the progress of the party.
Focusing his attention on the local political environment, Sisodia did not hold back from criticising the opposition as well, implying that both the BJP and Congress have time and again failed the citizens of the state. He said, “We have seen decades of power alternating between the two traditional parties in Himachal, but we are still stagnant in areas of healthcare, education, jobs, etc.”
Since Sisodia's last visit to the state was in 2022, the visit itself signifies a new thrust for the party in the region. Sisodia ended his speech by exhorting the party workers to prepare for a "decisive battle" in the coming polls. He said the elections were an opportunity to shatter the political duopoly.
Also read: Excise case: Delhi HC seeks Kejriwal, Sisodia response on ED plea
Follow us
