Hamirpur Assembly bypoll: BJP candidate not a public servant, took contracts worth Rs 135 crore, says CM Sukhu

The CM said this is the first case in the country and the state when Independent candidates resigned from the post of MLA and decided to contest the election again on the ticket of another political party. Sharma is one of the three Independent candidates who resigned from the Assembly to contest as BJP candidates in the bypolls. The other two candidates are contesting from Dehra and Nalagarh seats.

Sukhu is on an aggressive election campaign for Dehra, Nalagarh and Hamirpur bypoll, which will be held on July 10.

While addressing a rally in Hamirpur in favour of Congress candidate Pushpendra Verma, Sukhu said that since last July, the former sold-out MLA of Hamirpur has been conspiring to overthrow the government. “We have evidence of this, and a case has also been registered against him. Ashish Sharma was also a key conspirator in Operation Lotus. As the investigation progresses, many revelations will be made. Contractor Ashish has depleted the rivers of Hamirpur district, with no large stones visible. He is running two crushers under one name and has no concern for public welfare; he only roams around with files for setting up crushers and getting tenders, with no time to bring public work files to me,” the CM said.

He added that Ashish did work worth Rs 50 crore in the previous BJP government, while he took contracts worth Rs 135 crore in the 14 months of the Congress government. “He kept roaming around with files of setting up crushers and taking tenders. He did not find time to come to me with files of public works,” Sukhu said.

He added that the foundation stone of Hamirpur bus stand was laid during the tenure of former CM Prem Kumar Dhumal but not even a single brick was laid during the tenure of BJP’s Jai Ram Thakur as CM. “The Congress high command made me the CM from lower Himachal, that too from Hamirpur, for the first time in 75 years. But the three former MLAs of the district, greedy for power, did not like this,” he said

However, hitting back at the CM, BJP chief spokesperson and MLA from Sundarnagar Rakesh Jamwal advised Sukhu to manage his party MLAs. He said, “The government under Sukhu started transferring the government employees whose family members were associated with BJP in three assembly constituencies especially in Dehra from where Sukhu’s wife is contesting.”

BJP must apologise for trying to topple HP govt: Dy CM

The BJP leaders must tender a public apology for the party’s unsuccessful attempt to topple the duly-elected Congress government in Himachal Pradesh and thrusting nine assembly by-elections, deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri said here on Tuesday.

Addressing mediapersons here, he said that the government was stable and would last its full term. The “Operation Lotus” has failed in Himachal, shattering the dream of former chief minister Jai Ram Thakur to become chief minister through backdoor, Agnihotri said, adding that now he must name the key leaders allegedly involved in the “toppling game”. The Congress government which won 40 seats in 2022 assembly polls is all set to increase its tally to 41, winning all three assembly by-elections caused by resignation of three Independent MLAs, he said.

Blaming the BJP for the disqualification of six Congress MLAs and forcing nine assembly by-elections, Agnihotri said the BJP with only 25 MLAs managed the support of 34 MLAs to win the Rajya Sabha polls. He further alleged that not only the state leaders, but also the central leaders of the party were involved in the conspiracy to dislodge the government. Nine legislators, including six Congress rebels and three Independents had voted in favour of BJP nominee Harsh Mahajan in the Rajya Sabha polls held on February 27.

— With PTI inputs