Opposition forces debate under Rule 67
S Gopal Puri
DHARAMSHALA:
The Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on Wednesday (November 26, 2025) accepted a “stop work” proposal brought by the Opposition BJP under Rule 67, demanding a detailed discussion on the government’s alleged delay in conducting Panchayati Raj elections.
The acceptance of the proposal temporarily halted scheduled legislative business, allowing the House to take up the issue as a priority.
CM Sukhu says Congress not celebrating three-year anniversary, but presenting vision
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, responding to the Opposition’s demand, agreed to hold a full discussion on the matter. He clarified that the Congress government was not organising celebrations to mark the completion of its three-year tenure in Mandi.
“We are not celebrating three years of government. We will be presenting our vision for the coming years,” the Chief Minister said.
He emphasised that the Congress remained “the strongest protector of the Constitution”, reminding the House that it was the Congress that ensured reservation for women in panchayati raj institutions. Sukhu insisted that the government was functioning strictly in accordance with the law.
BJP slams government on Constitution Day
The debate turned heated when former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur accused the government of undermining constitutional values.
“On Constitution Day, the Congress shredded the very Constitution it claims to protect,” he charged.
He further alleged that the state government appeared to be “run by NSUI instead of the Chief Minister”, adding that Sukhu “neither listened to his ministers nor to his party leaders”.
According to him, the Congress rule of three years had resulted not in “system change but system collapse”.
Opposition targets government over poll delay
As the discussion progressed, BJP MLAs criticised the government for repeatedly postponing panchayati raj elections. Bringing the “stop work” proposal to the floor, the Opposition accused the state of attempting to avoid democratic accountability.
BJP MLA Randhir Sharma said the government was using the Disaster Management Act as an excuse to delay the polls. “The government is hiding behind the Disaster Act to stop Panchayat elections,” he alleged.
Assembly session turns stormy
With both sides locked in sharp exchanges, the House witnessed intense political confrontation. While the Opposition insisted on immediate and constitutionally mandated local body elections, the government maintained that all decisions would follow lawful procedures.
The accepted “stop work” proposal ensured that the issue remained at the centre of the day’s proceedings, setting the stage for a prolonged debate over governance, constitutional responsibility, and electoral accountability in Himachal Pradesh.
