'Uniform Civil Code Is A Good Step, We Are Open To Implementing It': Himachal CM Jai Ram Thakur

He also dismissed the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) bid in the state, labelling the Arvind Kejriwal-led party as an outsider whose political style will not work in Himachal Pradesh.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. (Source: Getty Images)

New Delhi: With the BJP pushing hard to keep power in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur praised the Uniform Civil Code as an excellent idea and stated that his administration is open to implementing it, news agency PTI reported.

He also dismissed the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) bid in the state, labelling the Arvind Kejriwal-led party as an outsider whose political style will not work in Himachal Pradesh.

The hill state, which has not re-elected a government in the previous five decades, will hold assembly elections later this year.

Speaking to the media at the Himachal Bhawan, Thakur said, "The AAP is an outsider for Himachal Pradesh, they have no leadership in the state. Whether it is their rallies or roadshows, they only give prominence to Kejriwal and (Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant) Mann and none of them is from the state."

Implying that the AAP's political approach will not work in Himachal Pradesh, he stated that the state is peaceful and that the people "will not tolerate any third alternative."

Himachal Pradesh has been ruled by either the BJP or the Congress throughout the previous five decades.

Thakur, who is certain of the BJP's win in the state, stated that the party will break the pattern this time and form a new administration.

In response to a query on neighbouring BJP-ruled Uttarakhand's drive for the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), he stated Himachal Pradesh is also looking into it.

"The Uniform Civil Code is a good step, we are examining it...our officers are examining it. We are open to implementing it in the state, it cannot be ruled out," Thakur said.

Thakur's remarks on the UCC are significant because elections in the state are expected for later this year. The BJP won 43 seats in the 68-member legislature in the most recent assembly elections.

The BJP's victory streak continued in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, with the party capturing all three seats in the state. However, the party has lately experienced multiple setbacks in recent byelections, notably the Mandi Lok Sabha election.

(With PTI Inputs)