MANDI: In a striking display of political contrast, Himachal Pradesh today presents an unusual reality: the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), though in opposition, is more active and organised than the ruling Congress, which is increasingly struggling with internal factionalism and leadership inertia.
Over recent months, the BJP has continued to mobilise its cadre through impactful campaigns. One such initiative is the Tiranga Yatra, organised across the state to express solidarity with Operation Sindoor, a recent military strike against Pakistan.
The march, stretching over 20 km in several districts and led by senior leaders, including former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, was designed not just to honour national sentiment but also to energise the party base.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy has completely isolated Pakistan on the world stage,” said Jai Ram Thakur during the rally. “This yatra shows that the BJP stands firmly with the nation and its armed forces.”
Such events are part of a consistent strategy by the BJP to remain politically relevant and publicly visible. The party regularly brings in national leaders, holds public meetings and ensures its workers remain involved in activities across all levels.
BJP spokesperson Prashant Sharma attributes this success to the party’s discipline and structure. He stated that BJP’s strength lies in its unified leadership and a well-defined chain of command that keeps every worker aligned and motivated. He also pointed out that when the organisational structure is robust, the party naturally thrives, even if in opposition.
Congress: Drifting despite holding power
By contrast, the Congress in Himachal Pradesh is facing an organisational and motivational crisis. Despite forming the government, the party has failed to constitute a functioning executive committee even six months after the organisational structure was disbanded.
The leadership remains fragmented between Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri and PCC president Pratibha Singh, each leading their own camps.
This internal divide has left the party’s state unit rudderless. Veteran Congress worker Suresh Sharma from Karsog expressed deep concern over the situation, saying this is the first time in state history that the Congress has reached “zero despite being in power”. He accused the Chief Minister of being more focused on consolidating his own camp than unifying the party, and warned that the morale of the workers was so low that some might demand payment to campaign in the next election.
Former Congress spokesperson Aakash Sharma cited the lack of attention to grassroots workers as a major reason for the demoralisation. “When the organisation is ignored for months and leadership remains inaccessible, how can the workers feel inspired?” he asked.
Munish Sood
