In a recent political address in the Barsar Assembly segment of Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu reflected on key electoral developments in the region, sharply criticizing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and highlighting the Congress government's ongoing development initiatives. Sukhu’s remarks underscored the complex political dynamics in Hamirpur district, focusing on past electoral decisions, party defections, and development challenges that have shaped the local political landscape over the years.
Sukhu began by revisiting the 2017 Assembly elections, describing the people of Sujanpur as having “made a mistake” by voting against Prem Kumar Dhumal, the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate at the time. Dhumal, a two-time Chief Minister and a prominent BJP leader, was defeated by Congress candidate Rajinder Rana by a narrow margin of 1,919 votes. Despite BJP’s promise that the next Chief Minister would hail from Hamirpur, Sukhu pointed out that no BJP legislator from the district was appointed to the Cabinet in the subsequent government. This, he argued, resulted in a stall in development within the region, implicitly blaming the electorate for the missed opportunities.
Rajinder Rana, who had secured the Sujanpur seat in both 2017 and 2022, later became a controversial figure when he was among six Congress MLAs who cross-voted for the BJP candidate during the Rajya Sabha bypolls. Subsequently, Rana officially switched allegiance to the BJP, a move that Sukhu cited as part of a broader pattern of political defections weakening the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh.
The Chief Minister’s address also touched on the 2024 bypolls in Barsar, where a similar pattern of political betrayal, in his view, occurred. He expressed disappointment and frustration over the electorate’s decision to elect a “turncoat” candidate, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, who had defected from the Congress to the BJP. Sukhu recalled the turbulent political atmosphere during the year, saying that there were attempts to topple his government, with two MLAs from Hamirpur switching loyalty to the BJP. His disappointment was palpable as he singled out Lakhanpal, whom he had not expected to join the BJP ranks, describing the electoral outcome as a repeat of the “mistake” made in Sujanpur in 2017.
Despite these political setbacks, Sukhu emphasized that his government was committed to restarting and accelerating development in Hamirpur district. Highlighting Barsar as his home constituency, he stressed that it was never his intention to allow its progress to stagnate. He showcased several ongoing government projects worth over Rs 41 crore, aiming to demonstrate the Congress’s dedication to the welfare of the people in the region. Among the initiatives announced were plans to upgrade the Barsar hospital to a 100-bed facility and an allocation of Rs 300 crore for establishing a Cancer Institute at the Hamirpur Medical College. Other proposed projects included the construction of an indoor stadium, a parking facility in Barsar, the introduction of postgraduate courses such as MA and M.Com at the local government college, and the installation of solar and high-mast lighting across various gram panchayats and the main market area.
Sukhu also used the occasion to urge the people of Barsar to move past political rigidity and support the Congress government, which he portrayed as focused on tangible development rather than “petty politics.” This appeal was aimed at bridging the political divide that had deepened due to recent defections and electoral outcomes. Interestingly, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, the BJP MLA from Barsar who had defected from Congress, was present at the inauguration ceremony. Lakhanpal stated that he had not received any official communication about the Chief Minister’s visit but had come upon hearing about it through media reports and welcomed Sukhu at the event.
In a broader political context, Sukhu addressed the seven BJP Members of Parliament from Himachal Pradesh, accusing the party of poaching one MP from Congress. He encouraged these MPs to actively advocate for a Rs 1,500 crore disaster relief package promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Kangra. Sukhu assured that his government was willing to accompany the BJP MPs to the Prime Minister’s office to ensure the release of these funds, signaling a willingness to cooperate on critical issues despite political differences.
Further attacking the previous BJP government’s governance, Sukhu