From Congress to BJP and now sharing the stage with Congress leaders again, the Mandi Sadar legislator’s latest political appearance has reignited questions over his changing equations
Munish Sood
Mandi
BJP MLA from Mandi Sadar Anil Sharma is once again at the centre of political discussions in Himachal Pradesh. His presence at the reception of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday, followed by his participation in the Anti-Chitta Walkathon, has triggered fresh speculation about the political equations surrounding the veteran legislator.
Anil Sharma welcomed the Chief Minister at the Kangnidhar helipad when Sukhu arrived in Mandi from Shimla. Later, he participated in the anti-drug awareness walkathon from Paddal Ground to Seri Manch and also shared the stage with the Chief Minister.
What made the occasion politically significant was not merely his presence at a government programme but also his visible proximity to senior Congress leaders. Former minister and senior Congress leader Kaul Singh Thakur was seen holding Anil Sharma’s hand and walking alongside him during the event, a moment that attracted considerable attention in local political circles.
Anil Sharma’s political journey makes the latest development particularly interesting. He has previously been associated with the Congress and the Himachal Vikas Congress before joining the BJP in 2017 along with his father, former Union minister Pandit Sukh Ram, and son Ashray Sharma. He subsequently won the 2022 Assembly election from Mandi Sadar on a BJP ticket.
His political equations have remained a subject of discussion over the years, particularly following the differences that emerged within the family during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, when his son Ashray Sharma contested against the BJP candidate on a Congress ticket.
During Friday’s programme, Anil Sharma reportedly expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Sukhu for the state government’s cooperation in development works in Mandi Sadar, including parking-related projects. His reported dissatisfaction over the lack of adequate support from BJP MPs for constituency-level development has also added another dimension to the political discussion.
The timing and optics of his appearance have inevitably raised questions about whether the BJP legislator is seeking to recalibrate his political equations with the ruling Congress leadership. His interaction with Sukhu and the visible camaraderie with Congress leaders have certainly provided fresh talking points in Mandi’s political landscape.
However, there has been no official announcement or indication from Anil Sharma about leaving the BJP or joining another political party. His participation could also be viewed in the context of his responsibilities as the elected representative of Mandi Sadar and his engagement with the Chief Minister on local development issues.
For now, Anil Sharma’s appearance alongside the Congress leadership has brought him back into the political spotlight, reviving memories of his earlier political transitions and setting off another round of speculation over the future course of Mandi’s politics.
