Congress victory in ULB polls reflects public faith in govt: Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu

Shimla: Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday hailed the Congress party's "impressive victory" in the urban local body(ULB) elections, claiming it as a clear endorsement of the state govt's policies and welfare initiatives. He said Congress-backed candidates secured victory in 32 out of 47 municipal bodies across the state, reflecting the people's confidence in the party's governance.Expressing gratitude to voters and party workers, Sukhu said the support received across all districts would motivate the govt to work with greater commitment and responsibility. He assured that the state govt would continue implementing welfare schemes effectively and ensure their benefits reach every section of society.Sukhu said the Congress govt functions on the principles of equality, balanced development and inclusive welfare. In contrast, he accused the BJP of pursuing divisive politics based on religion and caste.Sukhu also claimed that the Congress govt fulfilled the promises made during the 2022 Assembly elections and went beyond its guarantees in delivering public welfare measures. He highlighted several initiatives launched for women, labourers and marginalised communities, adding that reforms in education and healthcare were already showing positive results.Emphasising efforts to strengthen the rural economy, Sukhu said the govt significantly increased milk support prices and introduced support prices for naturally grown maize, wheat, barley, raw turmeric and ginger. He added that a Kisan Aayog was constituted and the long-pending demand of apple growers was addressed through the introduction of the universal carton system. He said these measures improved the welfare of farmers and horticulturists while laying a strong foundation for rural economic growth in the state.