Shimla, Aug. 8 -- The Leader of Opposition and former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Saturday accused the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh of deliberately delaying the election of the chairperson and vice-chairperson of the Shimla Zila Parishad, alleging that the administration was being used to suppress the democratic mandate.

Addressing a press conference in Shimla, Thakur said the Shimla Zila Parishad has 25 elected members, of whom 13 are associated with the BJP, while two other members are also in contact with the party.

He said despite the results of the Panchayati Raj elections having been declared nearly two-and-a-half months ago, the process for electing the Zila Parishad chairperson and vice-chairpers...