Leader of Opposition in Himachal Pradesh and State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Jai Ram Thakur on Saturday, 1 August launched a sharp attack on the Congress-led state government, alleging that the Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu-led administration has, over the past four years, replaced governance with a culture of political vendetta, abuse of power, and administrative intimidation. Thakur made the remarks while addressing the media in Shimla.

Core Allegations Against the Sukhu Government

Former Chief Minister Thakur alleged that instead of prioritising development, employment, and public welfare, the state government has focused on shutting down public institutions, stalling development works, and intimidating those who question its functioning. He contended that Himachal Pradesh — traditionally known as 'Dev Bhoomi' for its peaceful democratic ethos — is now witnessing what he described as an unprecedented misuse of state machinery against political opponents.

Thakur further alleged that as public resentment against the Congress government has grown — evidenced, he argued, by the BJP's strong performance in Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Body elections — the state administration has intensified its campaign of targeting BJP leaders and elected representatives through criminal cases and administrative action.

BJP Leaders and Elected Representatives Targeted, Alleges Thakur

According to Thakur, several senior BJP figures have been subjected to first information reports (FIRs), investigations, or administrative harassment. Those named include State BJP President Rajeev Bindal, legislators Sudhir Sharma, Hoshiar Singh, and Ashish Sharma, as well as former minister Sukhram Chaudhary and other party functionaries.

He also alleged that leaders who defected from Congress to BJP, along with their family members and aides, are being targeted as part of what he called a 'politically motivated campaign'. BJP's Zila Parishad members, Panchayat Pradhans, Municipal Councillors, and other local body representatives who defeated Congress candidates in recent elections are reportedly being served notices and subjected to inquiries, he added.

Law and Order, Women's Safety, and Surveillance Concerns

Thakur raised broader governance concerns, alleging that incidents of violent crime and crimes against women are not receiving adequate state attention while machinery is being diverted to build cases against political rivals. He specifically referenced a recent controversy involving the Harmony of Pines orchestra of the state police, stating that serious allegations raised by women police personnel deserve a fair and impartial probe.

He questioned why prompt action had not been taken despite complaints, arguing that the delay raises serious doubts about the government's commitment to protecting women employees within its own ranks.

Phone Tapping and Democratic Freedoms

The BJP leader also flagged allegations of phone tapping and surveillance of elected representatives and Opposition leaders. He said that if such monitoring is occurring without lawful authority, it would constitute a grave assault on democratic freedoms. Thakur demanded an independent investigation into all such allegations.

With the Himachal Pradesh assembly session approaching and the BJP consolidating gains from local body elections, the political temperature in the hill state is likely to remain elevated in the weeks ahead.