With only two days left for the campaigning for Mandi Municipal Corporation Election on scheduled for May 17, the campaign got a fillip with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and former CM Jai Ram joining the campaign in favour of their party candidates.
Addressing election rallies at Tarna, Nela, and the Town Hall in favour of Congress candidates, the Chief Minister said “The formation of the Municipal Corporation during the BJP’s tenure was not in consonance with public sentiment; because of which people Behna ward are demanding its exclusion from Mandi Municipal Corporation”.
He said, “Former CM Jai Ram Thakur is now advocating exclusion of Behna ward where as the area was included in MC during BJP government. “
The CM said, “No matter how much the Central Government discriminates against or harasses Himachal but we will not be intimidated and the state government is taking firm steps for making the state self-reliant”.
CM Sukhu alleged,” Chief Minister, Jai Ram Thakur focused solely on Seraj Assembly constituency by neglecting the entire state; as many as 18 rest houses were constructed in the area but Mandi town was neglected and now claiming – Mandi belongs to BJP.”
Highlighting Congress government’s achievements, the CM said, “The Congress party has fulfilled its promise regarding the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), s introduced English-medium instruction from Class 1 to improve basic education and announced Mandi would be beautified and developed with an investment of Rs 180 crore projects and Rs 50 lakhs would be released for every MC ward after the election for the development.”
State Congress in-charge Rajni Patil, PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh, HP Congress President Vinay Kumar among others also campaigned in favour of Congress candidates.
Former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur campaigning in support of BJP candidates held meetings in several wards of Mandi Municipal Corporation.
Addressing the rallies, Jai Ram Thalur said, “The Congress party would have to pay a heavy price in the upcoming election for the step-motherly treatment being meted out to the people of Mandi and alleged regional bias”.
He accused , “ After change of government , the Congress started a deliberate campaign to stall the development of Mandi and several development projects were abandoned systematically; the people of Mandi are politically aware, and Congress will have to pay the price for this insult in the form of an electoral defeat”, he stated .
He said, “Despite their differences with the Congress government policies, BJP will join state government’s campaign against drug abuse (Chitta) to save the youths .”
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