Sunil Chadha
SHIMLA:
Despite being the fourth-longest monsoon session in Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha’s history, the ongoing Assembly proceedings have been marked more by political slugfest than substantive legislative action or special debate.
What was expected to be a meaningful opportunity to address the state’s mounting debt, economic slowdown and other burning issues has turned into a theatre of blame games, walkouts and personal attack.
So far, no landmark bills have been introduced, no serious debate on revenue generation or employment has taken place and no concrete roadmap has emerged for tackling the state’s precarious financial health even as Himachal’s debt inches past Rs 1 lakh crore and employees await their pending dearness allowance (DA).
Politics over policy
Instead of deliberating on fiscal reforms, the House has been consumed by fiery exchanges between the opposition BJP and the ruling Congress. Former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has repeatedly targeted CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu over the state’s financial mismanagement and slow disaster relief. In turn, Sukhu hit back sharply, accusing the previous BJP government of “emptying the treasury” and “setting the state on the path to fiscal ruin”.
“It’s ironic that the state is in deep economic distress, but our Assembly seems to have no time to talk seriously about solutions,” said political analyst Dr Shalini Mehta. “This session had the potential to be historic, but it’s being wasted on political posturing,” she said.
Lotteries, loans & lost focus
In a controversial move, the government recently approved the reintroduction of state-run lotteries — banned since 2000 — to raise revenue. While officials say it could bring in Rs 100 crore annually, critics argue it reflects desperation rather than a sustainable strategy.
At the same time, the government has announced fresh loans worth Rs 1,500 crore. “The state keeps borrowing, but without structural reform or investment policy, it’s a debt trap,” warned Shimla-based economist Arvind Rana.
Speaker’s appeal falls flat
Despite repeated appeals from Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania to focus on public welfare and fiscal issues, most of the 12 scheduled sittings have been dominated by walkouts, shouting matches and adjournments.
“With over 900 questions submitted, the session had scope for deep discussions. But politics has taken precedence over governance,” said Vinay Chauhan, a political analyst. “Unless priorities shift, observers fear the session may end with more noise than impact — yet another missed opportunity in Himachal’s increasingly fragile political and economic landscape.”
