Munish Sood
Mandi
Buoyed by the Bharatiya Janata Party’s emphatic performance in the urban local body elections, former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur on Sunday declared that the verdict was a clear rejection of the Congress-led state government and a strong endorsement of the BJP’s leadership and policies.
Addressing a massive victory rally at Mandi’s historic Seri Manch following the party’s dominant win in the Mandi Municipal Corporation elections, Thakur said the people had once again reaffirmed their faith in the BJP and sent a decisive political message to the ruling Congress.
“The people of Mandi have given a fitting reply to those who questioned my statement that Mandi belonged to the BJP, belongs to the BJP and will continue to remain with the BJP. The relationship between Mandi and the BJP is based on trust built over decades, and this mandate has once again strengthened that bond,” he said.
The BJP secured a commanding majority in the Mandi Municipal Corporation, retaining the civic body for a second consecutive term and reinforcing its dominance in what is widely regarded as one of the party’s strongest political bastions in Himachal Pradesh.
Taking direct aim at the Congress government, Thakur said the results had exposed what he termed the “false narrative” being propagated by the ruling party. He noted that unlike previous local body elections, the municipal corporation polls were fought directly on party symbols, making the verdict a clear political assessment of both parties.
“The Congress leadership had made tall claims and deployed its entire political machinery in Mandi. Yet the people decisively rejected its politics and endorsed the BJP’s vision, leadership and organisational strength,” he said.
Speaking later at a press conference, Thakur highlighted the BJP’s broader performance across the state, stating that the party had emerged victorious in three of Himachal Pradesh’s four municipal corporations.
“The BJP has successfully hoisted the lotus in three out of four municipal corporations. This victory is the result of the tireless efforts of our workers and the blessings of the people,” he said.
The former Chief Minister further claimed that the recently concluded Panchayati Raj elections had also reflected strong public support for the BJP, with a majority of elected representatives across various tiers of local governance being aligned with the party’s ideology and development agenda.
According to Thakur, the combined verdict of municipal corporation, panchayat and local body elections indicates growing public dissatisfaction with the functioning of the Sukhu government.
“The mandate emerging from both urban and rural Himachal is a verdict against the present state government. People feel betrayed by unfulfilled promises, misleading guarantees and a lack of effective governance,” he alleged.
Escalating his attack, the Leader of Opposition accused the Congress of attempting to influence the electoral process through inducements and political pressure. He alleged that efforts were made to lure voters and influence elected representatives but claimed that the electorate ultimately rejected such tactics.
“The people of Himachal have demonstrated that they cannot be swayed by political inducements or government pressure. They have voted independently and delivered a strong message in favour of accountability and good governance,” he said.
Thakur described the BJP’s success as a victory of development, transparent governance and public faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He expressed confidence that the party would continue its strong performance in the ongoing Zila Parishad and Block Development Committee (BDC) elections as well.
In a politically charged conclusion to his address, Thakur asserted that the municipal election results were only the beginning of a larger political shift in the state.
“This verdict is an indication of the changing political mood in Himachal Pradesh. The people have started holding the government accountable, and this trend will become even more visible in the coming years,” he said.
The victory rally and subsequent press conference were attended by several senior BJP leaders, including Mandi MLA Anil Sharma, Balh MLA Inder Singh Gandhi, Dharampur MLA Purna Chand, BJP State General Secretary Payal Vaidya, State Spokesperson Ajay Rana and District BJP President Nihal Chand Sharma, all of whom hailed the results as a significant political milestone for the party in Himachal Pradesh.
