BJP’s politics of using money power, official machinery rejected: CM

Shimla, July 13

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today said that the byelection results were a rejection of the BJP’s politics of using money power and horse-trading. “I want to thank the people of the state for rejecting the BJP’s politics of using money and horse-trading and for ending the political uncertainty the state has been in since February 28,” he said.

The Chief Minister said a strong message had been sent through the bypoll results to all political parties to refrain from trying to bring down the elected government by using money or muscle power. “I think no party, howsoever powerful it may be, will try to bring down an elected government in the next 50 years. We will not see any such attempt in the state and it will be a lesson to everyone at the national level as well,” he added.

People had also taught a lesson to the Independent MLAs, who had resigned from the Assembly and joined the BJP, he said. “The public has rejected party hoppers too. They have been given them a befitting reply,” he added.

Sukhu said the Congress had won 40 seats in the 2022 Assembly elections, and the party was back at the same number after the byelections. “Jai Ram Thakur has been constantly saying that the days of the Congress government are numbered. Now, he should accept the mandate of the people,” he added.

Sukhu sounded pleased with the party’s win in the Dehra Assembly constituency, where the Congress won for the first time. “We had not won the Dehra Assemblyseat since it was carved out. The party high command gave the ticket to Kamlesh Thakur and she won the seat,” he said. “We lost by a small margin in Hamirpur but we secured comfortable wins in the other two constituencies,” he added.

Jai Ram must accept public mandate

Jai Ram Thakur has been constantly saying that the days of the Congress government are numbered. Now, he should accept the mandate of the people. — Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Chief Minister