Shimla, May 31 (IANS) Elated over the party’s massive sweep in the Municipal Corporation elections, BJP National Vice-President Saudan Singh on Sunday extended his greetings to the people of the state, the party leadership and party workers.

He said that in the elections held across four Municipal Corporations, the BJP achieved a success rate of 59 per cent by securing victory in 37 of the total 63 wards.

Besides the Municipal Corporations, the BJP claimed that in the elections to 3,759 panchayats, considered the backbone of grassroots democracy in the state, BJP-backed candidates achieved a historic victory.

“The BJP registered a spectacular victory by securing an absolute majority in the Municipal Corporations of Mandi, Dharamsala and Solan. In the Mandi Municipal Corporation, the BJP achieved an 86 per cent success rate by winning 12 of the 14 seats, while in Dharamsala it secured a clear majority by winning 11 of the 17 seats. In Solan, the party won the trust of the people by securing victory in 10 of the 17 seats,” he said.

He remarked that the results reflected the voice of the people of Himachal Pradesh.

“By extending their support to the politics of development, good governance and public service, the people have delivered a clear mandate in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party. This victory is a triumph of the public welfare programmes, pro-poor schemes and decisions taken in the national interest that are being implemented by the Central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

Saudan Singh said the people of the state had endorsed the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.

“The public has conveyed the message that they stand firmly with the politics of development and trust. The results of the Municipal Corporation elections also demonstrate that the BJP’s organisational structure has strengthened down to the booth level, and the public has rewarded the tireless efforts of party workers by extending overwhelming support to the BJP.”

Congratulating state BJP President Rajeev Bindal, Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur and the elected representatives, he said the BJP would continue to work relentlessly for the development of the state, further reinforcing the trust reposed in it by the people.

State BJP President Bindal accused the Congress government of attempting horse-trading by altering the rules governing the election of Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons of Panchayati Raj institutions.

He said that previously there was a specific provision mandating that these elections be conducted within a stipulated timeframe. However, by granting officials the discretionary authority to convene meetings, the possibility of horse-trading had increased significantly.

“This step is not only unconstitutional but also constitutes a blatant betrayal of the public mandate,” Bindal said.

He said that in the elections held across the state’s 3,759 panchayats, BJP-backed candidates had achieved a historic victory.

“The victory of BJP-backed candidates in approximately 74 per cent of the pradhan (village head) posts and 77 per cent of the up-pradhan (deputy head) posts is proof that the people of the state are disillusioned and distressed by the policies of the Congress government,” he said.

Bindal said the BJP’s support base had also steadily strengthened in the Municipal Corporation elections in Palampur.

“The BJP’s clear lead in three of the four Municipal Corporations, including Palampur, signals that a wave of change has begun sweeping across the state,” Bindal added.

–IANS

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