Cong accuses saffron party of horse-trading in mayoral election

After failing to wrest Shimla municipal corporation, the ruling Congress on Wednesday accused Opposition BJP of “horse trading” to secure coveted post of mayor and deputy.

In a joint press statement issued here, irrigation and public health minister Vidya Stokes, health minister Kaul Singh Thakur and forest minister Thakar Singh Bharmouri alleged that BJP has a habit of purchasing the loyalties and use muscle and money power to woo voters.

“In MC election, the BJP mustered support of independent and Congress-affiliated councillors by luring them with money power,” they alleged, adding that BJP cannot boast of clear mandate in MC polls and should refrain from issuing baseless statements just to earn cheap publicity.

Ministers said that BJP’s indulgence in horse trading was evident from the statement of husband of one of the elected independent woman councillor, who named BJP leader Rajeev Bindal visiting them and trying to offer money for changing loyalties.

Criticising the leader of Opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal for demanding resignation of chief minister Virbhadra Singh on the moral ground, the ministers questioned did he (Dhumal) resigned when he was the CM and lost Shimla MC election.

“Moreover, the elections to the MC were not held on party symbols,” they said. The ministers said there was no Modi wave as such in Himachal as BJP failed to reach the majority mark in MC polls.