Jai Ram Thakur, the former chief minister of Himachal Pradesh and leader of the opposition, has launched a scathing attack on the Congress government led by Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, accusing it of plunging the state into a financial emergency. Campaigning for the upcoming panchayat elections, Thakur stated that while the central government has consistently allocated sufficient budgetary resources, the state government has failed to utilize these funds effectively. He criticized the Congress for coming to power through 'false guarantees' and claimed that the public has lost faith in their promises.

In response, Health Minister Dr. Dhani Ram Shandil and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh defended the Congress administration, highlighting its achievements, including the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme for 1.36 lakh employees and the provision of ₹1,500 monthly support for eligible women under the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojana. Additionally, an assistant returning officer was suspended for serious negligence during the panchayat election process, which has raised concerns about the integrity of the upcoming elections. The elections are set to take place in three phases starting May 26.