What prompted this doctor-turned-MLA to ‘expose’ Himachal Congress govt’s ad deal with National Herald?

Shimla: A seemingly quiet MLA from Himachal Pradesh’s remote Chamba district has triggered a political storm that’s now making national headlines.

Dr Janak Raj, a BJP legislator and former neurosurgeon, has brought to light a startling revelation — the Congress-led Himachal government’s alleged ₹2.34 crore advertisement deal with National Herald, a media house linked to the Congress.

What prompted this medical professional-turned-politician to dig into the state government’s media expenditures?
Speaking exclusively to The Newz Radar, Dr Janak Raj said, “I kept noticing large-scale government advertisements, mostly full-page and heavily branded, across newspapers and digital platforms. It struck me as odd, especially when the same government is constantly crying about a financial crisis, delaying salaries, borrowing temple funds and slashing development works.”

Driven by a sense of accountability, Dr Raj filed a query seeking details on the government’s media spending. The response stunned even him. Over ₹10 crore had been spent on advertisements overall and a whopping ₹2.34 crore was reportedly directed specifically to National Herald, which operates a relatively low-visibility digital portal today.

“The name National Herald rang bells because it’s barely visible in mainstream media today. How did such a massive payment go there? This made the deal even more suspicious,” said Dr Raj.
His revelation has now become a national talking point. Prominent TV anchors like Arnab Goswami on Republic TV, Anjana Om Kashyap on Aaj Tak and Navika Kumar on Times Now have picked up the issue, questioning the Congress’ motives and the alleged misuse of public funds.

The storm has also caught the attention of investigative portals and social media influencers, with hashtags like #NationalHeraldAdScam and #CongressExposed trending across platforms.
As questions mount on whether the payment was a backdoor bailout to a defunct publication or a politically motivated misuse of state funds, the Congress has largely remained on the defensive.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders have begun rallying behind Dr Janak Raj, calling him a “whistleblower with spine.”
Dr Raj, however, maintains he’s only doing his duty. “Whether doctor or MLA, I’m a public servant. And this was taxpayers’ money. I had to ask.”

What started as a simple question from the hills of Himachal is now echoing in the corridors of national power.
Speaking to the media recently, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu maintained that “there was nothing wrong in issuing ads to National Herald, and that he would continue doing so in the future as well”.

S Gopal Puri