TNR News Network
DHARAMSHALA: A simmering family feud between Himachal Pradesh Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar and his son, former MLA and ex-Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) Neeraj Bharti, has once again burst into the public sphere, this time over transfers of government employees.
Neeraj Bharti took to social media on Thursday (June 19, 2025) to strongly criticise both his father and the Congress-led Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government, escalating a war of words that appears far from over.
The open defiance, underscored by a lengthy Facebook post, marks yet another chapter in the uneasy relationship between the father-son duo.
Bharti, a vocal figure in state politics, accused the government — and his father — of failing to stand by party workers when it comes to transfer decisions, which he described as “politically biased and demoralising for Congress loyalists”.
Social media turns battlefield for father-son duo
In his latest Facebook post, Neeraj Bharti launched a scathing attack, alleging that the Congress government was continuing the legacy of the previous BJP administration by not cancelling what he termed as “pro-BJP” transfers.
“If the transfers done during the BJP regime are not reversed, I will continue this fight alone if needed —against the government and even against my own father,” Bharti declared.
Calling the battle ideological and not personal, Bharti framed it as a larger struggle for Congress workers across the state. “This is not a personal feud or a fight over property. This is a fight for lakhs of Congress workers who stood by the party during hard times,” he wrote.
Minister’s clarification followed by son’s rebuttal
Interestingly, Bharti’s post came just hours after Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar had issued a statement dismissing speculations about his resignation and trying to put a lid on the controversy. However, his attempt at damage control appeared to have the opposite effect.
Bharti criticised his father’s stance, particularly his claim that political leaders should not be involved in transfer matters. “When in opposition, you assure party workers that their issues will be addressed once we come to power. But once in government, you say you are not here for transfers — how fair is that?” Bharti questioned publicly.
Not the first clash between the two
This public spat is not unprecedented. The Chander Kumar-Neeraj Bharti relationship has been marked by frequent ideological and political disagreements in the past, many of which have spilled into the public domain.
As the internal discord plays out in full public view, it underscores the deepening rift within the Congress ranks in the hill state, potentially giving ammunition to opposition parties.
