The leader of Opposition (LoP) and former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur on Saturday accused the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh of “deliberately delaying the election of the chairperson and vice-chairperson of the Shimla zila parishad, alleging that the administration was being used to suppress the democratic mandate”.

The LoP alleged that if the administration fails to announce the elections within the next two days, the BJP will approach the Himachal Pradesh high court on Monday.

Addressing a press conference in Shimla, Thakur said the Shimla zila parishad has 25 elected members, of whom 13 are associated with the BJP, and claimed that two other members are also in contact with the party.

He said despite the results of the panchayati raj elections having been declared nearly two-and-a-half months ago, the process for electing the zila parishad chairperson and vice-chairperson in Shimla has not been completed.

Thakur claimed that he had been trying to contact the Shimla deputy commissioner (DC) for the past three days regarding the issue but had not received an opportunity to speak to him.

“The DC’s office cannot be turned into a Congress party office. If the Shimla DC does not announce the date for the zila parishad elections within the next two days, all our elected members will approach the Himachal Pradesh high court on Monday,” Thakur said.

He warned that if the matter was still not resolved, the BJP would consider staging a protest outside the DC’s office until a date for the election was announced.

“If there is any law-and-order situation during such a protest, the CM and the concerned authorities will be responsible,” he said.

‘Congress could not field candidates in nine districts’

Thakur claimed that the results of the recently held panchayati raj and urban local body elections had demonstrated strong support for the BJP across the state.

He said elections for chairpersons and vice-chairpersons had been completed in 10 of Himachal Pradesh’s 12 districts and claimed that in nine of these districts, the Congress could not even field candidates for the top zila parishad posts, resulting in BJP candidates being elected unopposed.

He further claimed that around 70% of elected panchayat presidents were supported by the BJP and that the party had also performed strongly in panchayat samitis. Referring to the urban local body elections, Thakur said BJP candidates had won the mayor and deputy mayor positions in three of the four municipal corporations where elections were held on party symbols.

Thakur also referred to a recent HC order concerning the election of the chairperson and vice-chairperson of a block development committee (BDC) in Indora. He said 25 of the 26 BDC members were supported by the BJP, but the election process had allegedly been kept pending following a complaint by a Youth Congress leader.

Thakur said the BJP would also seek action against officials whom it believes attempted to delay or obstruct the democratic process. Thakur also challenged the state government’s decision to amend provisions relating to the conduct of panchayati raj elections.

He said the Supreme Court had directed that the panchayati raj elections be completed by May 31 and argued that the order covered not merely voting and counting but the entire electoral process, including elections for chairpersons and vice-chairpersons.

“The elections of chairpersons, vice-chairpersons, mayors, deputy mayors and other office-bearers should also have been completed within the stipulated period. If this has not happened, it amounts to a violation of the SC’s directions and may attract contempt proceedings,” he said.

The LoP also accused the Congress government of targeting BJP leaders, former elected representatives and party workers through what he described as a “politics of vendetta”.

“An entire chain has been created to register cases against BJP’s elected and former elected representatives, MLAs, former MLAs and party leaders. This is the first time I am witnessing such a political atmosphere in Himachal Pradesh,” Thakur alleged.

Tiranga Yatra commemorates 80 years of Independence

The BJP on Saturday organised a state-level ‘Tiranga Yatra’ in Shimla to commemorate the 80th year of India’s Independence.

The yatra, held under the leadership of the LoP and Shimla MP Suresh Kashyap, kicked off from the CTO and concluded near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at The Ridge.

Thakur said that the BJP has decided at the organisational level to conduct ‘Tiranga Yatras’ in every district and assembly constituency prior to Independence Day, aiming to further instill a sense of patriotism among the youth and the new generation.

Public’s hard-earned money is being wasted: Shimla MP

Kashyap has launched a scathing attack on the Congress and its allies regarding the ongoing deadlock during the monsoon session of Parliament. He alleged that the opposition is deliberately disrupting the proceedings of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, preventing discussions on critical issues concerning the nation and the public.