DHARAMSALA: Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur was in Dehra today to campaign for BJP candidate Hoshiar Singh in the upcoming assembly by-elections, making strong allegations against the Sukhu government. Thakur accused the current administration of being embroiled in scams worth hundreds of crores, claiming that it is poised to set a record for corruption.
Thakur pointed out recent newspaper reports detailing irregularities in a seven-crore tender by the Marketing Board, where rules were allegedly ignored. According to Thakur, responsible officers recommended reissuing the tender, but it was awarded without the presence of some key members and the MD. Thakur questioned the motives and protection behind such actions.
He also highlighted another alleged scam involving the sale of land worth two lakhs to HRTC for two crores. Thakur criticized the state’s law and order, citing a recent shooting involving hired shooters allegedly connected to the son of a former MLA. He accused the administration of targeting BJP leaders instead of addressing these issues.
During his speech, Thakur recounted the development works worth over Rs 600 crore carried out in the Dehra assembly constituency during his five-year tenure. He praised Hoshiar Singh for his dedication to Dehra’s development and assured that the BJP candidates would win with record votes in all three contested seats.
Thakur held public meetings in Kherian, Wangoli, Haripur, Vankhandi, and Darkata, urging voters to support Hoshiar Singh. He emphasized Singh’s continuous efforts for the development of Dehra and lauded him as a dedicated son of the soil. The meetings saw attendance from MLA Vipin Singh Parmar, Dr. Hansraj, Inder Singh Gandhi, former minister Sarveen Chaudhary, candidate Hoshiar Singh, and numerous local BJP leaders and residents.
The Dehra assembly constituency has 84, 491 voters, comprising 42, 000 male and 42, 491 female voters. A total of 100 polling booths will be set up for the election. The Election Commission has announced by-elections in Dehra, Hamirpur, and Nalagarh on July 10, with results to be declared on July 13. In the 2022 elections, all these seats were won by independent candidates who later resigned and are now contesting again under the BJP banner.