Shimla, June 5 -- Revenue and horticulture minister Jagat Singh Negi on Monday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for raising religious slogans during victory celebrations. Taking exception to the raising of "Jai Shri Ram" slogans in the context of panchayat election victories, Negi, while speaking to the media, said local body elections were contests between candidates and not religious exercises. "These elections were fought between individuals. Victory should be celebrated in the spirit of democracy and public mandate. Bringing religious slogans into democratic contests is inappropriate and can undermine the democratic character of elections," he said. Rejecting the BJP's claim that the panchayat elections were a "semi-final" before the assembly elections, he said these elections were not fought on party symbols and therefore presenting them as a political mandate was misleading the public. Reacting to the BJP's demand for the resignation of chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Negi said the Leader of Opposition and former chief minister Jai Ram Thakur should first explain why attempts were made to topple an elected government. "BJP lost six by-election seats- why didn't Jai Ram Thakur resign? BJP is trying to claim false credit for panchayat election results, people have rejected their party," said Negi. Negi further asserted that Congress has secured the president and vice-president's posts in Chamba urban local bodies (ULB) after 10 years and in Chuwari ULB after 15 years, both considered strongholds of the BJP. Reacting strongly, BJP chief spokesperson Rakesh Jamwal said that Negi is making baseless allegations. Congress minister has never been able to accept the party's continuously weakening position in Himachal Pradesh and, in particular, his political defeat in Kinnaur, he said. "Out of frustration and desperation, Negi is making baseless allegations," said Jamwal. "If despite being a Hindu, Negi objects to slogan 'Jai Shri Ram,' it reflects his mindset. The name of Shri Ram does not belong to any political party but represents the cultural consciousness and sanatan tradition of the entire nation" said Jamwal. Former CM Jai Ram Thakur again criticized CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday, stating, "The CM is trying to conceal his failure from the party high command solely by relying on false claims." Thakur was speaking at a felicitation ceremony held in Kullu for newly elected representatives of panchayati raj institutions and ULBs. "The CM who failed to secure victory for even three zila parishad members in his own home district of Hamirpur-and specifically in his home constituency ofNadaun-has absolutely no moral right to make hollow claims of victory across the entire state."...