Naresh Chauhan Hits Back at BJP, Calls MCC Violation Claims ‘Baseless’ After Poll Defeat

Addressing reporters here today, Chief Minister’s Principal Advisor (Media) Naresh Chauhan said that the BJP, which is making baseless allegations of violation of the Model Code of Conduct against the state government, is making absurd statements out of frustration over its crushing defeat in the municipal elections. He said that the BJP needs to introspect before making false allegations of violation of the Model Code of Conduct in Lok Sabha and before the media. He said that during the tenure of Jai Ram Thakur, the Model Code of Conduct was in force in the state from December 21, 2020, to January 22, 2021, during the Panchayat elections, and two Cabinet meetings were held during this period, on December 23, 2020, and January 5, 2021. Previously, during the tenure of Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, a Cabinet meeting was held on December 7, 2010, amid the Model Code of Conduct for the Panchayat elections. Similarly, during the tenure of Virbhadra Singh, cabinet meetings were held on December 5, 2005 and December 19, 2005 amid the code of conduct.
Naresh Chauhan stated that no new announcements or implementation decisions were made at the recent Cabinet meeting. Under the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Scheme, women in various regions are already receiving ₹1,500 per month. The benefits of this scheme are being provided in the form of honorarium to women in Lahaul-Spiti, Kupvi, Killar, and Pangi. Furthermore, the Cabinet decision regarding the honorarium increase was already provisioned in the budget.
Naresh Chauhan said that the municipal elections have favored the Congress, a result the BJP never expected. The five factions of the BJP were hoping for victory and a leadership battle was ongoing, but the election results have dealt a severe blow to these leaders. To demonstrate their stature to the state and central BJP leadership, these leaders are making baseless statements to the media and targeting the Congress. The defeat in the municipal elections has also made it clear that the Congress will emerge victorious in the Panchayat Raj elections, a fact BJP leaders are indifferent to.
Naresh Chauhan said that the Panchayati Raj elections were held using ballot papers, and the results clearly indicate that the BJP has suffered a crushing defeat. He added that if the Lok Sabha elections were also conducted using ballot papers instead of EVMs, Congress would emerge victorious.
The people of the state have held the BJP accountable in the elections, making it clear that the opposition must be positive to survive. He said that these results demonstrate that the BJP’s failure to advocate for issues of state interest and attempts to block central assistance at a time when the state needed financial assistance the most has angered the people of the state. He said that there is still time, and the BJP must rise above baseless criticism and play the role of a constructive opposition. He asked state BJP leaders to disclose how many times they have advocated for Himachal’s rights before the central government on issues such as disaster relief, GST, and revenue deficit grants. He also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while visiting Dharamshala in Kangra district, announced a grant of ₹1,500 crore to compensate Himachal for the losses caused by the disaster, but Himachal has yet to receive this amount. Similarly, Himachal has not yet received central financial assistance to compensate for the losses caused by the 2023 disaster.
He said that the state government has taken effective steps to improve the quality of education. By opening CBSE schools, introducing English medium schools, Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding Schools, and recruiting a large number of teachers, the education sector is being brought up to date with modern demands. During the BJP’s tenure, Himachal Pradesh lagged behind in education, a situation the current government has improved. Expressing confidence in the government’s policies, he said that in the near future, Himachal Pradesh will become a leader in the education sector nationwide. Similarly, the state government has also transformed the health sector, introducing robotic surgery for the first time in the state. Modern equipment is being purchased with an investment of approximately ₹3,000 crore, and equipment that is 18 to 20 years old is being replaced.
He said that Chief Minister Thakur Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has launched a decisive battle against drug abuse. There was a time when every family worried about their children, worried that drug addiction might darken their future. However, today, the Anti-Chitta Walkathon has fostered a collective consciousness, and along with the state police and government, a large number of citizens, especially youth, have joined the fight against drugs.
Naresh Chauhan said that there is a stark difference between the BJP’s words and actions. While it makes populist promises before elections in states like Bengal, it reneges on these promises after the results. Immediately following the election results, the government has been steadily increasing the prices of petrol, diesel, and gas. He pointed out that during the Congress government, when the price of crude oil reached $150 per barrel, petrol was available in the country for 60 to 65 rupees per liter. Today, even when the price of crude oil is less than $100, the price of petrol has crossed 100 rupees. The increase in petrol and diesel prices directly impacts inflation, and the central government’s price hike will have far-reaching consequences.
He said that India’s population is approximately 1.5 billion, the majority of which are young. Youth power is the foundation of any country’s bright future, but the central government is treating them unfairly. Inflation and unemployment are major issues in our country, but the central government shies away from discussing these issues, causing public anger. He said that the Cockroach Janata Party is a product of this anger and that the BJP needs to seriously consider issues concerning youth.
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