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Himachal Pradesh Civic Polls: Minister Jagat Singh Negi Dismisses BJP’s Victory Claims, Says Congress Gaining Ground
Political tensions have escalated in Himachal Pradesh following the recently concluded urban local body (ULB) and panchayat elections, with Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi strongly rejecting the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) claims of electoral success.
Political tensions have escalated in Himachal Pradesh following the recently concluded urban local body (ULB) and panchayat elections, with Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi strongly rejecting the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) claims of electoral success.
Addressing the outcome of the local elections on Thursday, Negi accused the BJP of creating a misleading perception about its performance and asserted that the results actually indicate growing public support for the ruling Congress government.
Congress Registers Key Victories in Urban Local Bodies
Taking aim at Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, Negi said several statements made by BJP leaders regarding the election results were factually incorrect. According to the minister, Congress achieved significant breakthroughs by regaining control of the Chamba Municipal Council after nearly a decade and securing leadership positions in Chuwari after 15 years.
He emphasized that Congress candidates won both the President and Vice-President posts in these civic bodies, describing the victories as a strong endorsement of the party’s governance and development agenda.
Congress Claims Majority Support Across Himachal
Negi further stated that Congress-backed candidates secured a majority in 29 out of Himachal Pradesh’s 53 urban local bodies. He highlighted Kangra district as a major success story for the party, claiming Congress emerged victorious in all six municipal bodies while the BJP failed to secure a single win.
The minister also pointed to Mandi district, traditionally considered a BJP stronghold, alleging that the opposition party suffered significant setbacks there despite its claims of success.
‘People Have Rejected BJP’s Narrative’
Responding to BJP leaders describing the local elections as a “semi-final” before the next Assembly elections, Negi argued that voters have already rejected the opposition’s attempts to challenge the Congress government.
He referenced previous Assembly by-elections, claiming that the BJP was defeated in six of the nine seats contested. Negi questioned why BJP leaders continue to portray themselves as victorious despite these setbacks.
“The people of Himachal Pradesh have repeatedly shown confidence in the Congress government,” he said, adding that election outcomes reflect public sentiment more accurately than political narratives.
BJP Accused of Diverting Attention From Public Issues
The Congress leader also accused the BJP of shifting focus away from issues affecting common citizens, including rising fuel prices and the increasing cost of household essentials.
According to Negi, opposition leaders are attempting to create a perception of electoral success to divert public attention from concerns such as petrol, diesel and cooking gas prices.
Panchayat Elections Reflect Congress Influence, Says Negi
Speaking about the panchayat elections, Negi noted that these polls are not contested on official party symbols. However, he claimed that a large number of newly elected local representatives share Congress ideology.
The minister stated that nearly 2,400 village pradhans and around 2,600 deputy pradhans elected across Himachal Pradesh are aligned with Congress principles, which he said demonstrates the party’s expanding grassroots support.
Political Battle Ahead of Future Elections
With both Congress and BJP interpreting the election results differently, the latest remarks highlight the growing political battle in Himachal Pradesh ahead of future electoral contests. While Congress views the civic poll results as evidence of strengthening public support, BJP leaders continue to maintain that the elections reflect momentum in their favor.
As political rhetoric intensifies, the debate over the true meaning of the local election results is expected to remain at the center of Himachal Pradesh’s political discourse in the coming months.
