Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh High Court’s directive to the Sukhu government to complete the pending elections by April 30 has sparked a sharp political face-off between Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and former CM Jai Ram Thakur.
Reacting to the court order, CM Sukhu questioned the timing and context of the decision, particularly in view of the disaster situation prevailing in parts of the state.
He said that the government had already invoked the Disaster Management Act in affected areas and was fully engaged in relief and restoration work.
“Whether or not the Disaster Act is in place in Himachal Pradesh, couldn’t the court have taken note of the ground situation before passing such an order?” Sukhu remarked.
He added that conducting elections in disaster-hit regions could divert administrative machinery from urgent relief operations.
The Chief Minister maintained that the state government respects the judiciary but stressed that practical difficulties on the ground must also be considered. “Our priority right now is saving lives, restoring roads and providing relief to affected families,” he said.
Hitting back, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur accused the Sukhu government of using disasters as an excuse to delay democratic processes. He said elections are a constitutional requirement and should not be postponed indefinitely.
“The government cannot hide behind excuses. The High Court has given a clear direction and it must be followed,” Jai Ram said.
He alleged that the Congress government was deliberately delaying polls out of fear of losing public support.
Jai Ram further claimed that the administration was fully capable of handling both disaster management and elections simultaneously.
“This government has failed on governance and now wants to run away from elections,” he charged.
The High Court had directed the state government to ensure completion of the pending elections by April 30, setting the stage for a political showdown in the coming weeks.
