Mandi, April 29
Former Chief Minister and current Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur launched a sharp attack on the Sukhu-led Congress government, alleging that it is openly violating the Model Code of Conduct by favoring its loyalists and shielding friends. In a statement issued from Mandi, Thakur asserted that while the election atmosphere prevails across the state and rules are in force, the government is secretly indulging in illegal activities. The Bharatiya Janata Party, he said, will not tolerate this and is keeping a close watch on all such actions.
Thakur specifically pointed out that officials posted in various boards and corporations are misusing government resources and public money for election campaigning, which is not only unethical but also a direct violation of Election Commission rules. The Commission, he demanded, must immediately take cognizance and put a stop to such activities. He further alleged that outsourcing agencies are being used to lure unemployed youth with promises of jobs during elections, a practice he termed as wrong. According to him, most of these agencies belong to Congress leaders who enjoy the patronage of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu. These leaders, he said, are misleading young people in the name of employment to benefit favored candidates.
Thakur emphasized that today’s voters are wise and will not be swayed by Congress’s false promises or such tactics. During his visit to Chhatri in Seraj, he remarked that even small-time Congress leaders are flaunting government power and resorting to unfair means in elections.
Thakur warned that the sanctity of the Model Code of Conduct is paramount in democracy, and if the government continues to misuse institutions to favor its “friends,” the BJP will not only lodge complaints with the Election Commission but also expose the government in the people’s court. According to Thakur, the Sukhu government, seeing its defeat inevitable, is now resorting to desperate measures that go against administrative propriety. He cautioned government machinery not to succumb to political pressure or indulge in illegal acts, as every wrong decision will be held accountable in due course.
By raising issues of corruption, nepotism, and violation of electoral rules, Thakur placed the Sukhu government in the dock, declaring that the Congress has already conceded defeat. Now, he alleged, the government is trying to influence elections through money power. He added that the BJP has already announced authorized candidates for most local body seats and will soon declare the rest. Elections, he insisted, must be conducted freely and transparently. If the government uses money power or unethical practices, the BJP knows how to deliver a fitting response.
