BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari criticised the Congress over reports of Himachal Pradesh Rural Development Minister, Anirudh Singh, allegedly assaulting a National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) official, Achal Jindal. Calling Singh a close aide of Rahul Gandhi, Bhandari wrote, "Power drunk Congress leader turns violent?...This is the reality of the Congress party: Disrespect, Coercion & Corruption!"