Over a dozen elected BJP leaders of the Panchayati Raj institutions of the backward Seraj constituency of this district have petitioned Himachal Governor Kalyan Singh, against “harassment and blackmailing” of the rural leaders of the BJP.
These BJP leaders alleged that this is being done by manipulating verbal orders to the BDOs not to initiate the development works already sanctioned for the rural development projects until they leave BJP and join Congress.
The signatories in the complaint to the Governor include Pitamber lal, Dewan Chand, Jodha Ram, Udai Ram all members of Zila Parisha and Murari lal President Panchayati Raj Samiti Seraj.
They said due to this, all development works in their areas had come to a halt. The tenure of the representatives of the rural Panchayati Raj will expire in December this year. “The ruling Congress Government of the State with a malafide intention is deliberately conspiring to let down the BJP leaders in the eyes of the people of Seraj,” it has been alleged.
The BJP leaders also alleged that they had been threatened either to join Congress or get suspended obviously in false or frivolous cases framed against them.
Seraj segment is the stronghold of BJP since many decades and Thakur Jai Ram MlA and former Minister had been working hard to develop the backward valley.
Talking to media persons, he alleged that Virbhadra Singh Government was neglecting the constituencies of BJP MlAs and development activities were confined to the constituencies of the favorites of the chief minister.
He alleged that the State was reeling under financial crisis due to gross unproductive extravagance let loose by the Chief Minister, who has burdened the State exchequer by deploying an army of the defeated and rejected politicians .
He lamented that the stated was being run by the old and ailing leaders of the Congress and the chums in bureaucracy and cabinet were firing shots exploiting the failing memory of the ailing and aged leaders of Congress Party.