“Government Being Run by Sukhu’s ‘Mitra Mandal’, Not the Cabinet”: Jai Ram Thakur
Shimla: Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh, alleging that the state was being run not by the Cabinet but by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s “Mitra Mandal”.
Addressing a press conference soon after bidding farewell to Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, Thakur claimed that the Congress government was functioning in an atmosphere of instability and fear despite enjoying a full majority in the Assembly.
He said the internal turmoil and confusion within the ruling party clearly indicated a deepening trust deficit within the Congress leadership. “Even Congress leaders appear uncertain about the stability of their own government,” he remarked.
Thakur said the Rajya Sabha seat had naturally fallen to the Congress after the BJP decided not to field a candidate on principle. However, he said the developments surrounding the selection of the party’s nominee exposed “a politics of deception and misinformation” within the Congress.
According to him, several senior Congress leaders had travelled to Delhi to present their claims for the Rajya Sabha ticket and were repeatedly assured by the Chief Minister that their names were under consideration. “Some leaders had even completed nomination-related formalities believing they would get the ticket, only to see the situation change at the last moment,” he alleged.
Referring to the public remarks of senior Congress leader Anand Sharma, Thakur said his expression of anguish reflected the lack of dialogue and respect within the party. “A leader of his stature saying he has always practiced self-respect in politics shows the level of dissatisfaction within Congress,” he added.
The Leader of Opposition alleged that key decisions in the state were not being taken in Cabinet meetings but within a limited “circle of friends”. “Policies, resources and decisions are being guided by the priorities of this ‘Mitra Mandal’ rather than institutional processes,” he claimed.
Thakur also questioned the Congress claim that its Rajya Sabha nominee was an “ordinary worker”, alleging that the person’s affidavit reflected assets worth over ₹230 crore and that several government contracts worth crores were linked to him.
He further raised concerns about the Chief Minister’s official tours, claiming that at times official tour programmes were issued but the Chief Minister later travelled elsewhere without the administration or the public being informed.
Alleging corruption and political patronage, Thakur referred to the alleged illegal felling of trees in Sirmaur district’s Shillai area, claiming that more than 300 trees were cut despite permission for only 25. He also mentioned another alleged forest felling case in Mandi district and claimed financial irregularities in a project worth about ₹120 crore.
Thakur said the Congress government had spent the past three years indulging in allegations against the previous BJP government instead of focusing on development. “If the government has concrete evidence against former BJP ministers, it should act. Mere rhetoric after three years only reflects political frustration,” he said.
Highlighting the achievements of the previous BJP government, Thakur claimed that development projects worth nearly ₹7,000 crore were executed during its tenure and more than 4,700 km of roads were constructed. He also cited welfare schemes such as Himcare, Sahara and the Chief Minister Swavalamban Yojana.
“The people of Himachal Pradesh are watching everything closely. The Congress government is focusing on protecting power and benefitting friends rather than development,” Thakur said, adding that the BJP would continue to raise issues concerning the state’s resources and governance.
