Anil Sharma, rural development and Panchayati Raj minister has ridiculed the statement of former Himachal Pradesh chief minister and leader of opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal on Pratibha Singh, Congress candidate for Mandi parliamentary by-poll, and termed it as an outburst of a “frustrated” politician.

Earlier, during poll campaign, Dhumal had taken a dig on the chief minister, stating that he was puzzled as he foresaw defeat of former MP and his wife Pratibha Singh, in the Mandi by-poll.

In a statement, Anil Sharma said that Dhumal was baffled by the “historic and farsighted” decisions/initiatives taken by the Congress led government in its five-month tenure and out of sheer frustration; Dhumal resorted to issuing malicious statements. He said that such statements not only reflected his lust for power, but also showed that he had not been able to come out of the shock of defeat he had faced in the assembly elections.

Anil Sharma lauded the government’s five-month tenure and stated that present Govt has taken many people-centric decisions in the state. Sharma added that under the rule of Virbhadra Singh, the state had achieved new heights in the field of education, road construction, hydropower and other sectors. He said that the Congress government was gaining popularity, which had baffled its political opponents.

Panchayati Raj minister said that electorates were wise enough to choose between wrong and right and they know which party is best to serve them. He also advised Dhumal to remain patient and wait for a few days as the people of Mandi parliamentary constituency would give him a befitting reply.