Harsh Mahajan Targeted: ‘Shanta Kumar, Anil Sharma Praise Us, But Five BJP Factions Remain Silent’
Munish Sood
NADAUN/SHIMLA
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has launched one of his sharpest attacks yet on the BJP, accusing the opposition party of being divided into five separate factions and alleging that its internal divisions have overshadowed issues concerning the state’s development.
Speaking to the media, Sukhu directly targeted Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur and Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Mahajan, questioning the BJP’s political strategy and its prospects of returning to power.
Sukhu claimed that the BJP was currently divided into five groups and said the differences within the opposition were so deep that several of its leaders were unable to acknowledge the work being done by the state government.
‘Shanta Kumar and Anil Sharma praise us, but the five factions remain silent’
In one of his strongest political arguments, Sukhu pointed to senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar and Mandi Sadar BJP MLA Anil Sharma, saying that both had appreciated the work of his government.
Sukhu said the contrast was significant: while leaders such as Shanta Kumar and Anil Sharma had spoken positively about the government’s work, the other BJP leaders divided into five separate factions had not uttered a single word in his or his government’s praise.
He suggested that political factionalism was preventing the BJP from acknowledging development initiatives even when some of its own senior leaders were prepared to appreciate them.
The remark was aimed squarely at the BJP’s internal politics, with Sukhu portraying the opposition as a party where competing groups were more interested in political positioning than recognising the government’s work.
Jairam Thakur comes under direct fire
Taking a sharp dig at Jairam Thakur, Sukhu described the former chief minister as “khajjal” and alleged that he was attacking him regularly to maintain his political presence in Delhi.
Sukhu claimed that Jairam issued statements against him morning and evening and subsequently sent press notes based on those attacks to the party leadership in Delhi.
The Chief Minister also questioned the BJP’s record on issues concerning Himachal Pradesh, alleging that its leaders had failed to mount any sustained political struggle for the state’s interests.
Harsh Mahajan becomes another target
Sukhu’s most pointed political jibe was reserved for Harsh Mahajan.
Referring to Mahajan’s earlier association with former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, Sukhu said that when Mahajan was an adviser to Virbhadra Singh, the Congress failed to return to power.
He then turned the argument towards Mahajan’s present role in the BJP, asking how the BJP could expect to return to power when Mahajan was now advising the party.
The remark sought to turn Mahajan’s political journey from the Congress to the BJP into an electoral argument against the opposition.
Sukhu also accused those involved in what he described as “horse-trading politics” of believing that the elected government could be brought down through political manoeuvring, saying the people of Himachal Pradesh were aware of such attempts.
Dhaulasidh project adds another flashpoint
Sukhu also announced that the state government would take back the Dhaulasidh Hydroelectric Project from SJVN by paying around ₹800 crore.
He said the decision was aimed at protecting Himachal Pradesh’s interests and maintained that his government would not compromise on the state’s rights.
The Nadaun remarks mark another escalation in the political confrontation between the Congress government and the BJP, with Sukhu simultaneously attacking the opposition’s leadership, internal factionalism and political strategy, while highlighting the support he claimed to have received from senior BJP figures such as Shanta Kumar and Anil Sharma.
