Munish Sood
Mandi
As campaigning intensifies for the prestigious Municipal Corporation elections in Mandi, the political temperature in the town has reached a fever pitch. What was expected to be an election focused on civic amenities and urban development is increasingly turning into a bitter political showdown between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP, with accusations and counter-accusations dominating the narrative while public concerns struggle to find space.
With senior leaders from both parties descending on the town and holding back-to-back rallies, residents feel that the election has drifted away from the real issues affecting everyday life. Political observers believe the civic polls are now being viewed as a “semi-final” ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, making the battle more about political prestige than municipal governance.
The Congress has deployed its top leadership in the campaign. All India Congress Committee in-charge for Himachal Pradesh affairs Rajni Patil is scheduled to address multiple election meetings in Mandi today. Chief Minister , Sukhwinder Singh is also scheduled to reach Mandi this evening and hold meetings at different wards followed by dinner meeting with Mandi Vyapar Mandal.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Minister and election in-charge Vikramaditya Singh has aggressively taken charge of campaigning, launching sharp attacks on the BJP over its previous tenure in the Municipal Corporation.
Addressing a public gathering in one of the wards on Tuesday evening, Vikramaditya Singh accused the BJP-led Municipal Corporation of failing to deliver even basic amenities during the last five years. He alleged that despite making tall claims of development, the BJP failed to improve roads, water supply, sanitation and civic infrastructure.
“The people of Mandi were misled in the name of development. Even after remaining in power for five years, the BJP could not provide basic facilities to residents,” he said, while urging voters to support Congress candidates for the city’s “comprehensive development.”
The meeting was attended by Dharampur MLA Chandrashekhar, District Congress President Champa Thakur, Congress candidate Rekha and a large number of party workers and local residents.
On the other hand, former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur has intensified BJP’s campaign by addressing multiple public meetings across the town. Launching a scathing attack on the Sukhu government, Jai Ram alleged that Mandi has faced discrimination ever since the Congress came to power in the state.
“The development of Mandi has been deliberately stalled. Projects and priorities linked to the city have been systematically ignored,” he said during an interaction with the media, adding that the people of Mandi would give a befitting reply to the Congress in the elections.
Expressing confidence over BJP’s prospects, Jai Ram Thakur claimed that after winning 11 out of 15 seats in the last elections, the BJP was poised for an even bigger victory this time.
However, amid the aggressive political rhetoric, residents say the core issues confronting the city have been pushed into the background.
Parking congestion continues to remain one of the biggest concerns in the city as increasing traffic pressure has made movement difficult in several areas, yet no party has presented a concrete roadmap to address the crisis. Similarly, issues related to waste management, sewerage facilities in newly merged wards, and preservation of Mandi’s historic temples and ghats have received limited attention during campaigning.
The growing menace of drug abuse is another issue worrying residents, but instead of discussing solutions, both parties are busy blaming each other for the worsening situation.
Many locals believe that the arrival of heavyweight ministers and senior political leaders has transformed the civic election into a prestige battle dominated by state and national political narratives.
Madhu Sharma, a resident of Ward 3, said people expected candidates to speak about roads, parking and sanitation, but most speeches are centred around attacking political opponents.
Sugandha from Ward 9 said that instead of discussing ward-level problems, campaign rallies are increasingly revolving around state-level political accusations.
Rajnish, a resident of Ward 2, said voters are watching closely and may ultimately support candidates who focus on basic civic needs rather than political mudslinging.
Political analysts believe the silence among voters this time should not be mistaken for indifference. Many residents appear more concerned about practical urban issues than party rhetoric, and this could significantly influence the outcome.
As the campaign enters its final phase, the key question remains whether voters in Mandi will endorse the politics of confrontation or choose candidates who promise concrete solutions to the city’s long-pending civic problems.
