BJP united, Congress split wide open, says LoP Jai Ram

Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur has rejected Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s repeated claims that the BJP in Himachal Pradesh is divided into five groups, asserting that the party remains “completely united”.

Speaking to the media before leaving Dharamsala after the winter session of the Vidhan Sabha on Saturday, Jai Ram said the CM was deliberately raking up false allegations of infighting to divert attention from the state government’s failures.

He accused the Sukhu government of failing to address unemployment, the growing drug problem, the deepening financial crisis and rising corruption. “To mask these failures, the CM is misleading the public with imaginary tales of BJP factionalism,” he said.

Calling Sukhu a “weak administrator”, Jai Ram alleged that governance in the state had deteriorated under the Congress government.

He claimed that real factionalism existed within the ruling party, particularly after the recent change in the state Congress leadership. “There is visible groupism in the Congress. Discontent is simmering among several warring factions, including ministers,” he said.

Thakur added that the BJP’s December 4 rally in Dharamsala, attended by top party leadership, was a powerful show of unity. “The massive gathering and presence of all senior leaders proves there is no question of groupism in the BJP. Instead of making baseless allegations, the CM should address the unrest in his own party,” he said.

He further said the turnout at the rally reflected growing public dissatisfaction with the state government. “People across the hill state are unhappy with the Sukhu administration and the unprecedented crowd in Dharamsala was a clear expression of that resentment,” he added.