Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday slammed the Congress, saying the state’s ruling party has developed into a “laughing club”.

Addressing an election public meeting here, Modi asked the Congress to introspect on why people across the country are punishing it.

“Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh faces serious graft allegations, but Congress poll manifest to talks about zero tolerance for corruption. “It’s time to free the Devbhoomi from monsters”, PM  Modi asserted.

The Prime Minister Modi then jibbed the ruling Party Congress on corruption with an attention-grabbing take on how the Grand Old Party sees the Swachhta Abhiyan.

"For Congress, Swacchta Abhiyan is cleaning up the state's capital," Modi insisted.

"The Congress needs to reveal why the entire nation is turning away from the Congress leaders and their party. This country is very merciful. But if you do something with sick intentions and try to deceive the people, they'll never forgive you," PM Modi quoted.

 Previously in this week on Tuesday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah named former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal as the party’s chief ministerial contender for the forthcoming Assembly polls.

The Assembly poll for the State is scheduled on November 9 and the results will be affirmed on December 18.

Union Minister J.P. Nadda was devotedly seen as one of the candidates but Dhumal’s mass connect in the hill State seems to have angled the scale in his favor.