S Gopal Puri
Shimla:
In a striking political paradox, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Himachal Pradesh appears to have emerged more aggressive and visible than the ruling Congress, which has been suffering due to a dysfunctional organisational structure.
From attacking the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government’s revival of the lottery system after 25 years to criticising the alleged poor flash flood relief efforts in Mandi, BJP leaders are leaving no stone unturned to target the ruling party.
Dr Rajeev Bindal, Jai Ram Thakur, Anurag Thakur, Rakesh Jamwal and Bikram Thakur have led the charge through frequent press briefings and media interactions across the state, a coordinated campaign that has starkly exposed the Congress’ near-total silence in defence, said a political analyst.
Congress without organisational set-up for months
A Congress insider maintained that the silence was not incidental as nearly nine months after the high command dissolved its state, district and block-level committees in November 2024, the party had failed to rebuild its organisational structure.
“Internal tussle, primarily between Chief Minister Sukhu’s camp and that of state Congress president Pratibha Singh, continues to pose a challenge for the party. At the core of the stalemate is a turf war over appointment to various boards and corporations, and filling the lone vacant post in the Cabinet,” said the leader.
The insider said the resulting vacuum had created a situation where the government stood exposed, unable to counter opposition attacks or communicate its achievements. A senior Congress leader admitted that the “workers were demoralised and even ministers seemed hesitant to engage with the public”.
BJP seizes the opportunity
In contrast, the BJP appears more energised than ever. Recently, the party organised a massive ‘Tiranga Yatra’ across multiple districts to honour Operation Sindoor, India’s military strike against Pakistan.
The BJP has skillfully blended nationalism with local issues, turning every policy move by the Sukhu government — be it alleged development delays or administrative lapses — into ammunition for its outreach.
The Congress’ in-charge for Himachal, Rajni Patil, had promised a swift reorganisation within 15 days after taking charge. But months later, the party remains in limbo. Sukhu’s meetings with Patil yielded no resolution.
Veteran Congress worker Suresh Sharma from Karsog didn’t mince words: “This is the first time the Congress has hit zero despite being in power. Workers are so disillusioned that some may even ask for payment to campaign next time.”
Former party spokesperson Aakash Sharma echoed similar concerns. “When grassroots workers are ignored and the leadership is absent, you can’t expect loyalty or momentum. The BJP is capitalising on every weakness we’re exposing,” he said.
Panchayati raj elections pose challenge
With panchayati raj elections approaching, the Congress faces an urgent need to rebuild, reorganise and regain public trust. But without unity at the top and without a functioning party structure on the ground, the road ahead appears increasingly steep.
Meanwhile, the BJP, despite being in opposition, continues to look like the more prepared and connected force on the ground, said the political analyst.
