Mandi, 12 April (H.S.):

Former Chief Minister and current Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party will storm back to power with a resounding majority in the upcoming assembly elections, liberating the state from Congress's anti-people policies and scripting a fresh chapter of development.

Jairam Thakur lambasted the Congress for seizing power through false guarantees, only to shutter local institutions despite public demands. They halted ten of your initiatives; now you must take one decisive step—stop voting for Congress to prevent future betrayals, he urged.

On Sunday, he toured remote hamlets in his home constituency of Seraj—Bagi, Bandal, Khunachi, Dagail, Paleuni Dhar, and Tharapad—meeting residents, listening to grievances, and assuring comprehensive support for resolutions.

Appealing to party workers ahead of panchayat polls, he exhorted unity and a development-centric agenda. He predicted a jolt for the government in these elections, crediting the intricate road network in Himachal's most inaccessible terrains to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's central leadership.

The road I traveled here was built with ₹14 crore from the Centre. You all know when construction began and that it's now complete, he highlighted.

Countering critics questioning roadworks in his region, Thakur retorted that as a legislator for 29 years, he had traversed these arduous paths on foot, intimately understanding public hardships. He clarified that all panchayats in his assembly were road-connected before his chief ministership, with equitable statewide progress achieved without discrimination during his tenure.

Power is entrusted for public service and growth, not vengeance. Some indulge in excessive verbosity instead of delivery. Six chief ministers have served, but none—barring the current one—spoke such untruths. The office demands dignity, now tarnished for the first time. The Chief Minister misleads both the public and assembly with fabrications.

Expressing alarm over the region's plight, Thakur warned that post-disaster road conditions remain pathetic, with uncleared debris risking renewed devastation ahead of monsoons.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar