BJP Gears Up for 2027 Himachal Polls; Jairam Thakur Slams 'Loanpriya' Govt
LoP Jairam Thakur slams Congress over rising debt and stalled development as BJP gears up for the 2027 Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections.
The political landscape in Himachal Pradesh is heating up as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) officially kicks off its groundwork for the 2027 Himachal Assembly polls. Leveraging a strong showing in recent local body elections, the BJP is projecting a wave of public support that it believes will pave the way for a return to power.
The momentum shifted into high gear during a felicitation ceremony in Shahpur, where Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur honored newly elected representatives of urban local bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions. Speaking to a gathering of party workers and leaders, Thakur asserted that the BJP's influence now stretches across the entire state, from Bharmour to Sirmaur.
Local Body Wins: A Blueprint for 2027?
Thakur highlighted the recent electoral results as a clear indicator of the public's mood. According to the former Chief Minister, the BJP-backed candidates have dominated the local governance structure:
- District Councils: The BJP secured chairperson posts in 11 out of the 12 district councils in Himachal Pradesh.
- Municipal Corporations: The party emerged victorious in three of the state's four municipal corporations.
Thakur emphasized that this ceremony was not just about celebration, but about strengthening the vital communication link between the party's top leadership and its grassroots workers.
'Lokpriya' vs 'Loanpriya': The Debt Debate
The event served as a platform for a scathing attack on the current Congress administration led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. In a biting critique, Thakur contrasted the term "Lokpriya" (popular) with "Loanpriya" (fond of loans) to describe the state government's financial management.
The Leader of Opposition raised serious alarms regarding the state's mounting debt. He claimed that while the previous BJP government left a debt of approximately Rs 69,000 crore, this figure has skyrocketed to around Rs 1.20 lakh crore under the Congress regime.
"The government is continuing to borrow money while imposing various cesses and taxes, yet the expected pace of development is nowhere to be seen," Thakur alleged.
Furthermore, Thakur accused the government of stalling essential development works and failing to deliver on the electoral guarantees promised to the people.
The Road to 2027: Strategy and Youth
As for the strategy leading up to the next general assembly election, Thakur revealed that the BJP has already begun its outreach. He disclosed that he has already visited roughly 25 Assembly constituencies, receiving an encouraging response from both the public and party cadres.
Will Youth Get a Chance?
Addressing queries regarding the selection of candidates for 2027, Thakur indicated that the BJP is open to empowering young leaders. While he affirmed that opportunities would be provided to the youth, he clarified that the final authority on ticket distribution remains with the party's central leadership.
The BJP intends to center its upcoming campaign on three core pillars: governance failures, the slowdown of development, and the precarious financial health of the state.
The event saw the participation of several high-profile figures, including Member of Parliament and former minister Sarveen Chaudhary, alongside various local office-bearers, signaling a unified front as the party looks toward the 2027 horizon.