Himachal is witnessing pro-incumbency, there is no issue that has created resentment: Jai Ram Thakur

CM underlines the slew of schemes implemented by his government, flays the Opposition Congress for merely playing politics on issues like inflation, unemployment and the Old Pension Scheme

As the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) aims to retain power in Himachal Pradesh with its ‘Mission Repeat’, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur asserts that the BJP’s battle is with the Congress. He says the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) doesn’t even exist in Himachal and moreover, people have “lost confidence in AAP after their disappointing governance in neighbouring Punjab”. 

In an exclusive interview with The Hindu, Mr. Thakur says the State is witnessing pro-incumbency and there is “positive atmosphere” for the “double engine” government”. Underlining the slew of schemes implemented by his government, he also flays the Opposition Congress for merely playing politics on issues like inflation, unemployment and the Old Pension Scheme.

Excerpts:

Our agenda has always been development and public welfare. In the last five years, despite the COVID pandemic, we have done a lot of developmental work. We have done things that even the six-time Chief Minister [late Virbhadra Singh] of the Congress party could not do. For the first time, ‘Ayushman’ and ‘HIMCARE’ schemes were introduced for the free medical treatment of people. Similarly, ‘Sahara Yojana’ [₹3,000 per month to patients suffering from fatal diseases] was run for the weaker sections and free domestic gas connections were given under ‘Ujjwala’ and ‘Grihini Suvidha Yojana’. The ‘Shagun Yojna’ had been introduced and financial assistance of ₹31,000 is given for the marriage of daughters of BPL families. All these schemes have been started for the first time and ₹1,033 crore spent on them. There are more than 10 lakh beneficiaries of these schemes. There is no Assembly constituency where development projects worth more than ₹150-200 crore has not been done. In doing development work, we did not involve in politics of discrimination and favouritism. I can say with confidence that never before has this much work been done in a single tenure.

BJP’s battle is with the Congress. The AAP doesn’t even exist in Himachal and moreover, the people have lost confidence in the AAP, after their disappointing governance in neighbouring Punjab. In the seven months of their regime in Punjab, they have ruined the State, be it the declining economy or on other fronts. The people in Himachal are well aware of the poor work of the AAP government in Punjab and are in no mood to support them in Himachal.

There’s no question of anti-incumbency. Instead, Himachal is witnessing pro-incumbency for the first time. I have been among the people for the last five years. I have gone to every Assembly constituency three to four times. I have been meeting people and based on their feedback, there is no issue that has created anger or resentment. Even Congress and AAP aren’t able to raise any issues against us.

There is a different atmosphere during the Assembly elections whereas byelections are fought over other issues. In Mandi Lok Sabha seat, Congress sought votes as a tribute to its late leader Virbhadra Singh. And we also experimented in some seats. So the results were not in our favour. A year has passed and now you can see how positive the atmosphere is for the present government. The work of ‘double engine’ government gives us confidence.