BJP Chief Spokesperson and MLA Randhir Sharma called for the resignation of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on moral grounds after the performance of the Congress government in recent urban local body and Panchayati Raj Institution elections.
The statement was made during a press conference in Shimla on Wednesday.
Sharma described the elections as the “semi-final” ahead of the next Assembly elections and asserted the results demonstrated growing public dissatisfaction with the ruling Congress party. “The people of Himachal Pradesh have withdrawn their confidence from the Congress government. Having lost the semi-final, the Chief Minister should resign on moral grounds and seek a fresh mandate from the people,” he said.
He referenced Congress leaders’ earlier characterisation of the elections as a “semi-final,” adding, “If the Congress itself called these elections a semi-final, then a team that loses the semi-final does not play the final. The Chief Minister should resign on moral grounds and pave the way for fresh Assembly elections.”
Sharma expressed gratitude to BJP party workers and congratulated successful candidates, stating that the results reflected increased public support for the BJP and dissatisfaction with the Congress government.
According to Sharma, the BJP achieved decisive victories in three of four municipal corporations-Mandi, Dharamshala, and Solan-while Congress retained only Palampur. He said the outcome indicated that voters were determined to remove the current government and restore BJP to power.
The BJP secured majorities in 12 of 22 municipal councils and 18 of 25 nagar panchayats where elections took place, according to Sharma. Regarding Panchayati Raj Institution elections, though district council polls are not formally contested on party symbols, political parties endorse and support candidates. Sharma accused Congress of distancing itself from the results despite backing several candidates.
He alleged that Congress leaders, ministers, and MLAs campaigned actively for party-supported candidates in district council elections, but voters rejected them. Sharma claimed that out of 250 Zila Parishad wards, BJP-supported candidates won 144 seats, Congress about 60, and numerous independents elected were ideologically aligned with BJP.
“In Bilaspur, Congress failed to open its account. In Hamirpur, Sirmaur and several other districts, the party suffered a humiliating defeat,” he said.
Additionally, BJP-backed candidates secured 1,199 Panchayat Samiti (Block Development Committee) seats statewide, compared with 477 won by Congress. Sharma stated that most other independent winners were also sympathetic to the BJP.
He criticised Chief Minister Sukhu for making contradictory remarks on the election outcome, initially asserting Panchayati Raj elections were not fought on party lines, then attempting to claim victories. The BJP spokesperson also condemned Sukhu for promising Rs 50 lakh in development funds to wards electing Congress candidates during the municipal corporation campaign, describing such announcements as inappropriate electoral influences. “Despite these promises, the public did not trust the Congress government,” Sharma added.
Sharma contended that the Congress government had failed to deliver on major promises made during the 2022 Assembly elections, such as providing Rs 1,500 monthly to women, purchasing milk at Rs 100 per litre, buying cow dung at Rs 2 per kilogram, supplying 300 units of free electricity, and creating five lakh government jobs. “People know that a government struggling to pay salaries cannot fulfil such promises. That is why voters rejected Congress,” he said.
He highlighted that Congress secured only one seat in the Mandi Municipal Corporation despite extensive campaigning by the Chief Minister. Sharma dismissed Congress’s allegations of factionalism within the BJP, advising the ruling party to address its own internal issues. “Even the Deputy Chief Minister has admitted that factionalism exists within Congress. The Chief Minister should focus on his own house instead of making misleading statements about the BJP,” he said.
Sharma accused the state government of attempting to use administrative power to defeat BJP candidates, claiming some nominations were unfairly rejected and that BJP workers and candidates faced pressure and intimidation during the election process. With elections for chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of local bodies still pending, he expressed concern the government might try to influence outcomes through pressure tactics.
“We want to warn the government against any anti-democratic attempts to overturn the people’s mandate. The BJP will strongly oppose any effort to misuse official machinery or undermine democratic processes,” Sharma stated.
Regarding the BJP’s loss in Palampur and allegations of factionalism, Sharma affirmed the party would review the causes of the defeat and implement corrective measures where necessary. He indicated disciplinary action had been taken against some party rebels and that decisions on their future roles would follow.
Sharma declined to comment on the ongoing lawyers’ agitation in Shimla, noting the press conference was exclusively dedicated to the urban local body and Panchayati Raj election results.