BJPs Claims of Victory in Panchayat Elections Misleading, Says Naresh Chauhan

Shimla, May 31: Naresh Chauhan, the Chief Minister‘s Principal Media Advisor in Himachal Pradesh, stated on Saturday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is exaggerating and misleading the public regarding its performance in local body and panchayat elections. He emphasized that feedback from across the state indicates a significant number of Congress-supported candidates have emerged victorious.

Chauhan further asserted that the BJP is attempting to create a victorious image through the media that is far removed from the ground reality. He expressed confidence that Congress-supported candidates will also win in the panchayat committee and district council elections, as voters statewide are showing clear support for the party.

Discussing tourism, Chauhan noted that the tourism sector in the state suffered considerable damage due to natural disasters in 2023 and 2025. However, he highlighted a strong recovery in this sector, with a steady increase in tourist numbers at major destinations such as Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, Palampur, Dalhousie, and Kasauli.

Praising Chief Minister Sukhu’s tourism initiatives, Chauhan mentioned that the state government has declared Kangra as the tourism capital of Himachal Pradesh and launched several major projects to promote tourism in the district.

He reported that expansion work at Kangra Airport is ongoing, and heliports are being developed in various parts of the state. Various tourism projects, implemented with the support of the Asian Development Bank, are also progressing rapidly. These initiatives aim to attract high-end tourists and significantly enhance the income and livelihood opportunities for local residents.

Chauhan also noted that the state government has made significant improvements to the homestay policy to create self-employment opportunities, particularly for youth and those living in rural areas. He stated that these measures will strengthen the rural economy and open new avenues for income generation. The government’s goal is to make tourism the largest and most sustainable pillar of the state’s economy.

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