Munish Sood
Mandi
Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Himachal Pradesh government, alleging that the delay in conducting panchayat elections has stalled rural development and exposed what he termed as administrative failure.
Speaking during his visit to Chhatri in the Seraj assembly constituency of Mandi district, Thakur said that if the elections had been conducted on time, development activities in villages would have been progressing rapidly. He accused the government of using the natural disaster as a pretext to postpone the elections and failing to carry out adequate relief and reconstruction work even after several months.
“Had the panchayat elections been held on schedule, development works in rural areas would have been moving at a war footing. However, the government delayed the polls citing disaster-related reasons, and even after nine months, relief and rebuilding efforts are not visible on the ground,” he said.
Allegations of Neglect in Infrastructure
Highlighting the condition of infrastructure in several parts of the state, Thakur claimed that many roads are still covered with debris, drinking water schemes remain damaged and electricity infrastructure has not been fully restored. He also said that the lack of small bridges over streams and rivulets has forced villagers in some areas to continue travelling on difficult and unsafe routes.
The former Chief Minister further alleged that despite financial assistance from the central government, development works at the panchayat level have largely remained stalled. He also referred to observations made by the Himachal Pradesh High Court regarding the delay in holding local body elections.
Criticism of Congress Government
Targeting the ruling Indian National Congress government in the state, Thakur said the administration had failed to deliver on its promise of “system change”. According to him, the situation has instead resulted in what he described as a “system collapse”.
“For us, power is a medium to serve the people, but the current government appears to be treating it as a means of enjoying power,” he said, while asserting that the Bharatiya Janata Party remains committed to public service and development.
Raises Concerns Over Education Institutions
During his address at the annual prize distribution ceremony of Chhatri College, Thakur also expressed concern over what he described as the neglect of educational institutions in remote areas.
He said the college and the local ITI were established during his tenure to ensure that students from remote regions could access higher and technical education without travelling long distances. However, he alleged that the present government had reduced several trades in the ITI and had even prepared a proposal to close the college.
Thakur said he spoke with the state’s technical education minister and suggested shifting the college to a vacant portion of the ITI building as the current campus has been declared unsafe.
Encourages Youth, Meets Party Workers
During the event, the former Chief Minister announced an incentive of ₹51,000 for students who participated in cultural programmes and encouraged young people to move forward in life with determination and perseverance.
As part of his visit, Thakur also held an organisational meeting with party workers to discuss upcoming programmes and party activities. He said the enthusiasm and dedication of grassroots workers remain the core strength of the party.
The remarks signal an intensifying political confrontation between the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and the ruling Indian National Congress in Himachal Pradesh over governance, rural development and the delay in panchayat elections.
