Munish Sood
Shimla/Mandi:
The Congress government’s grand show in Mandi to mark three years in power has triggered a fresh political undercurrent in Himachal Pradesh, with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri emerging at the centre of a subtle yet unmistakable power play.
At the rally, held as the party’s biggest public mobilisation ahead of the next electoral cycle, Mukesh Agnihotri’s fiery speech — laced with warnings to officials and pointed remarks directed toward Chief Minister Sukhu — became the most talked-about moment of the day. As Agnihotri spoke of the need for the government to “wield the stick” and “not continue like this”, political observers noted the visible change in Sukhu’s facial expressions on stage.
Sukhu chooses silence, walks away from questions
A day later in Shimla, when media personnel questioned the Chief Minister about Mukesh’s aggressive remarks, Sukhu chose not to engage in the row.
He simply said “thank you” and walked away, a response that has further fuelled speculation about widening fault lines inside the government. However, even amid the growing discussion, the government sought to downplay the episode.
Cabinet minister defends Mukesh, rejects ‘factionalism’
Cabinet Minister Prof. Chander Kumar, who has emerged as the first voice of damage control, defended the Deputy CM strongly.
He said Mukesh Agnihotri’s comments may have stemmed from “an individual perception against a particular officer”, and that there is “no factionalism, internal rift and difference of opinion on policies or governance within the cabinet”.
He further asserted that the massive turnout at the rally proved the BJP’s claims of a “show-off event” wrong. “People came on their own from far-flung areas. The Opposition had predicted a picnic; instead, the rally became a political statement,” he said.
At the Mandi rally, Mukesh Agnihotri had accused some officers of hobnobbing with BJP leaders and warned that such officials would be “handled in the dark of the night”.
Mentioning Chief Minister Sukhu, Agnihotri said from the stage: “Three years are over; only two remain. Whoever has to be given a post or appointment should be given now. Work cannot continue like this; we must act firmly.” His remarks have added a new dimension to the political equation within the Congress.
Sukhu hits back at opposition, not Mukesh
While avoiding comments on Mukesh’s outburst, CM Sukhu did respond sharply to Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur’s attacks on the Jan Sankalp Sammelan.
Sukhu said he no longer felt inclined to respond to Jai Ram Thakur: “His statements lack facts; he speaks lies.”
He urged the BJP leader to instead help the state secure the Rs 1,500 crore promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ensure approval of the Rs 2,000 crore PDNA package. “His own constituency will benefit the most. Is he against his own people?” Sukhu asked.
On the state’s disaster situation, Sukhu reiterated that the government was compensating losses from its own revenue while waiting for central support.
Agriculture minister warns of dire drought situation
Agriculture Minister Prof Chander Kumar also flagged that drought conditions are “challenging”, affecting both horticulture and traditional farming, with more than 70% of Himachal’s agriculture being rain-dependent.
He said the government is preparing a scientific, climate-based strategy to strengthen irrigation and tackle the crisis.
