The Congress on Saturday brought out a “chargesheet” against the BJP government in poll-bound Himachal Pradesh with the tagline “Loot ki Chhoot (freedom to loot)”.

The Congress argued that the BJP’s tenure was ridden with corruption, an allegation that strikes at the heart of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim of “Na khaoonga, na khane dunga (Neither will I take bribe, nor allow anyone else to do so)”. The Congress also alleged that none of the 10 key promises in the BJP manifesto had been fulfilled by the Jairam Thakur government in the past five years.

Himachal votes on November 12 and the counting is on December 8.

While the Congress campaign is built on the three issues of unemployment, prices and corruption, leaders releasing the “chargesheet” said no government had indulged in such rampant corruption in Himachal Pradesh like the BJP’s incumbent regime. Recruitments by the government were of particular concern as jobs were being sold and the process was vitiated by exam paper leaks, the Congress claimed.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera, who released the “chargesheet”, said paper leak was a common feature in all BJP-ruled states. “The BJP-ruled states are in competition with each other. Twenty-two papers were leaked in another poll-bound state, Gujarat,” he said, wondering sarcastically how much resources could be generated if GST was imposed on the “lies and scams” of the BJP.

The leader of the Opposition in the Himachal Assembly, Mukesh Agnihotri, said: “Jairam Thakur is the first chief minister of Himachal who will be remembered for selling jobs. For every appointment of a police constable, Rs 6 lakh to Rs 8 lakh were taken. There was a scam in every recruitment. A commission of inquiry will be set up to look into recruitment scams.”

Agnihotri added: “In the last six months, due process was not followed in appointments; the state public service commission didn’t conduct examinations. People were recruited on whims. We have decided all the decisions taken in the last six months by this government will be reviewed. Political rallies and events were conducted (with money from the) state exchequer. The state has run up a debt of Rs 72,000 crore but public money was spent on tents and buses for election rallies. The bills will be sent to the BJP after the change of government.”

Himachal Congress chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu recalled how the government “made money” during the pandemic, a reference to an alleged PPE kit scam. He alleged that the state BJP was remote-controlled by national president J.P. Nadda from Delhi.

Sukhu said the charges levelled by the Congress were not mere allegations as the entire state knew these “facts”.

The Congress is taking the Himachal Pradesh elections seriously because of the perception of strong anti-incumbency. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will address her second rally in the state on October 31 in Mandi.