Shimla: Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur accused the Congress government of favoritism in allocating development priorities, stating that only MLAs close to the Chief Minister are being given preference. Addressing a press conference, he announced that BJP would boycott the MLA priority meeting scheduled for February 3 and 4, citing the government’s negative attitude and disrespect toward legislators.
Jairam Thakur criticized the Congress government for failing to approve Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for opposition MLAs over the past two years. Despite attending previous priority meetings, BJP legislators found that their proposals were not even processed. He further alleged that even approved DPRs are being screened before NABARD, and those linked to BJP MLAs are being deliberately rejected.
Highlighting dissatisfaction within Congress ranks, Thakur claimed that many ruling party MLAs have privately expressed concerns that they, too, are being sidelined. He accused the government of undermining the MLA institution and said that during Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s tenure in opposition, he advocated for legislators’ rights but is now violating the same principles.
Jairam Thakur also alleged that while elected MLAs struggle to get funds approved for projects in their constituencies, non-elected Congress leaders are being given undue authority over development decisions. He noted that DCs and secretaries are following instructions from the CM’s select leaders, ignoring recommendations from elected representatives.
Adding to the criticism, he accused Congress of allowing defeated or unelected leaders to inaugurate events, deliver speeches at school functions, and participate in official meetings, while opposition MLAs are not even invited to government programs in their areas.
Thakur recalled that under former Chief Ministers Virbhadra Singh and Prem Kumar Dhumal, MLAs were given due respect, irrespective of party affiliation. Several BJP leaders, including Trilok Jamwal, Jeet Ram Katwal, Dr. Janak Raj, Lokendra Kumar, Sanjeev Katwal, Kamaljeet Sood, Karan Nanda, and Sudeep Mahajan, were present at the press conference.