Shimla, May 31: Political discussions are intensifying in Himachal Pradesh following the municipal election results. While the BJP claims these outcomes reflect the public mood, Naresh Chauhan, Chief Minister‘s Principal Media Advisor, dismissed this assertion. He stated that the results from four municipal corporations cannot define the political landscape of the entire state. The true picture will emerge after the results of the rural and panchayat elections are announced.
Chauhan noted that the competition in Solan and Dharamshala was very close. In Solan, if Congress had received slightly more support, the contest could have ended in a tie with both parties securing eight seats, especially with an independent candidate in the race. He acknowledged that there were shortcomings in Solan that the party would review. Discussions with local leaders, candidates, and workers will help understand why the expected performance was not achieved.
Regarding the BJP’s claims of political change in Himachal similar to West Bengal, Chauhan argued that comparing the two states is inappropriate. He emphasized that Himachal voters are highly aware and discerning, understanding who is genuinely working for the state’s interests.
Chauhan highlighted that the Congress government has made several unprecedented decisions in the past two and a half years. Initiatives in education, health, minimum support prices for farmers, increased milk prices, anti-drug campaigns, and the implementation of Old Pension Scheme (OPS) are beginning to benefit the people. He challenged the BJP to identify which of these decisions were wrong.
He also accused the BJP of remaining silent on state issues. Chauhan stated that the party should address topics such as disaster relief assistance from the center and the ₹1500 crore announced by the Prime Minister. He urged the opposition to focus on the state’s interests rather than merely criticizing.
Chauhan pointed out that the municipal elections were limited to four assembly constituencies and a small urban voter base. In an assembly constituency with 80,000 to 90,000 voters, only about 15,000 urban voters participated in the municipal elections. Therefore, he argued that it is unreasonable to claim this as a trend for the entire state.
He reminded that Congress had recently secured a majority in the elections for 51 municipal bodies and had performed well. Reports indicate that Congress-supported candidates are gaining traction in the upcoming district council and block committee elections.
Chauhan mentioned that Congress received clear public support in Palampur, while the BJP succeeded in Mandi. The competition in Dharamshala and Solan was extremely close. He asserted that declaring a mandate for the entire state based on a mere 922 votes difference is inaccurate. Congress is confident that the results of the district council and block committee elections will reveal the true political landscape of the state, ultimately disproving the BJP’s claims.
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