Shimla, April 1 – The BJP's legislative party, led by Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, staged a protest outside the Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday over changes made by the government to the panchayat election roster, and also raised questions about the government's functioning.
Addressing the media here, former Chief Minister Thakur launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, saying he has developed a habit of making rash decisions, forcing the government to repeatedly backtrack and making the state a laughingstock.
The main reason for the controversy, both inside and outside the House, is the government's decision to allow Deputy Commissioners to make up to five percent changes in the roster.
Thakur said the new rules, which empower Deputy Commissioners to alter the reservation rosters for ward members, village heads, and Panchayat Samiti chairpersons, constitute a clear "abuse of power to benefit Congress party workers."
He said the government's intention "is not to conduct the elections fairly but to delay them," adding that it is making arbitrary decisions and disregarding orders from the High Court and the Supreme Court.
"The government does not appear to be in favour of conducting fair Panchayat elections from the outset. That is why it is continuously conspiring to stop the Panchayat elections."
The BJP lawmaker said even after the decisions of the High Court and the Supreme Court, the Chief Minister is not relenting in his intention to obstruct the Panchayat elections.
"From the very first day of the Panchayat election process, the government has been conspiring to stop the Panchayat elections. To this end, administrative officials were repeatedly encouraged, in one way or another, to disobey the orders of the State Election Commission. Instead of conducting the elections, they were engaged in finding ways to stop them," Thakur said.
After the protest, the BJP lawmakers joined the House, where they created a ruckus over their demand for a discussion on an adjournment motion moved by BJP member Randhir Sharma under Rule 67.
As the Speaker rejected the adjournment motion, the entire Opposition again staged a walkout.