"BJP looted Himachal Pradesh, played 'politics' in 2023 disaster": CM Sukhu

Sirmaur (Himachal Pradesh) [India], May 4 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and accused the former ruling party in the state of "looting" and making the state "bankrupt."

While campaigning for Congress candidate Vinod Sultanpuri on Saturday in Paonta Sahib of Sirmaur district, Chief Minister Sukhu addressed a public rally and lashed out at the previous BJP government in the state.
"The previous BJP government has bankrupted the state. The entire treasury was looted. BJP leader Jairam Thakur knew everything when he was the Chief Minister, yet he remained ignorant," he said.
He also claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party played 'politics' during the disaster that broke in the state following heavy rains in July and August 2023.
"BJP only played politics in the disaster and our government did the work of settling the affected families," he said.
He further accused the BJP of being an "anti-Himachal Pradesh" party and said that it did not support the public in the state in the aftermath of the 2023 disaster.
"BJP is an anti-Himachal party, it did not support the people in the disaster, did not stand with the state government for special relief package. When small children were donating their piggy banks in the disaster, I donated my lifetime earnings of Rs 51 lakh. Left the helicopter, gave a package of Rs 4,500 crore to settle 22 thousand families. We do not do politics by buying emotions like BJP," he said.
"Your BJP MP from Shimla parliamentary constituency, Suresh Kashyap was nowhere to be seen in the disaster. He did not even meet the Prime Minister and the Home Minister and demand help for Himachal, did not even raise his voice in the Parliament," said CM Sukhu while urging the public to bring a change and support Vinod Sultanpari from Congress.
"Vinod Sultanpari supported the people in the disaster. Elect him and send him to the Lok Sabha," urged CM Sukhu.
Industry Minister Harsh Vardhan Chauhan, Education Minister Rohit Thakur, Deputy Speaker Vinay Kumar, MLA Ajay Solanki, former MLA Kirnesh Jung, former candidate Dayal Pyari, District President Anand Parmar, Kunjana Singh, Congress Urban President of Paonta Sahib Ravinder Pal Khurana were present on the occasion.
Former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur is the face of the BJP campaign in Himachal Pradesh--the only Congress ruled state in the north, having four Lok Sabha seats.
Thakur, who is also Leader of Opposition (LoP) hails from Mandi, the parliamentary constituency witnessing a hyper poll activity and also attracting headlines.
In the state, the filing of nominations will begin on May 7, and the last date for filing papers is May 14.
The elections to the four Lok Sabha seats of Himachal Pradesh and by-polls to the six assembly constituencies that fell vacant with the disqualification of six rebel Congress MLAs will be held on June 1. (ANI)