Himachal Politics Heats Up as Anurag Thakur Attacks Sukhu Government

Shimla, October 22: Political temperatures are rising in Himachal Pradesh after BJP MP Anurag Thakur declared that his party would form the government in the state in 2027. Addressing reporters in Shimla, he backed his claim with the results of recent local and Panchayati Raj polls.

Thakur said the BJP had won three of four municipal corporations and 11 of 12 zila parishads. He also said the party had secured roughly 80 percent of seats in Panchayati Raj elections. These figures, he argued, show that the public is moving towards the BJP ahead of the next Assembly polls.

He further noted the party's strong showing in Theog constituency, where it won several posts, including BDC chairpersons, nagar panchayat members, Panchayati Raj heads and ward members.

The BJP leader launched a direct attack on the Congress government, saying it had failed to deliver on its electoral guarantees. He targeted Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, claiming that the Congress 'khatakhat model' had now become defunct.

Thakur also raised concerns about the state's financial health. He alleged clear signs of fiscal mismanagement and a growing financial crisis. Pointing to Himachal's debt, which he said exceeds Rs 1.12 lakh crore, he claimed that the government was borrowing money to pay off existing debt.

He also accused the government of closing educational institutions and abolishing government posts. According to him, thousands of institutions were shut and 1.5 lakh posts were eliminated over four years. He said 5,109 posts in the education department were vacant and that dues to employees and pensioners were still pending.

Thakur mentioned a sum of Rs 8,555 crore but did not explain which pending liability it relates to. He also added that employee-related dues remain a serious issue in the state.

In his remarks on the Election Commission, Thakur said the opposition had not questioned the poll body after Akhilesh Yadav failed to win the seats he had expected in an earlier election. He added that the opposition had also stayed silent after the BJP's record Lok Sabha performance and its win in Ayodhya.

Thakur alleged that the opposition was preparing an atmosphere of blame in advance so that it could hold the Election Commission responsible for any defeat. He criticised the trend of large-scale campaigning before elections, followed by complaints against the commission when results go against them.