Himachal Congress Marks 3 Years in Power; CM Sukhu Predicts 52-Seat Win in 2027

The Himachal Pradesh Congress government on Thursday celebrated its three-year milestone with a major show of strength at Mandi’s Paddal Ground, where Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, senior party leaders and thousands of supporters gathered for what doubled as a governance report card and a political message ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.

Addressing the rally, Chief Minister Sukhu said the massive turnout reflected the public’s continued trust in the Congress. He recalled assuming office with the blessings of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, emphasising his humble background and the party’s long legacy of sacrifice.

Sukhu invoked Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, reminding critics that the Congress “lost two prime ministers for the nation.” He recounted visiting orphaned children on his first day as Chief Minister, instead of heading to the Secretariat, describing it as symbolic of a “people-first” government. He highlighted that 6,000 orphans had been declared “Children of the State” and provided support including ₹3 lakh for house construction, ₹1 lakh for tuition and a monthly allowance of ₹4,000.

Taking aim at the previous BJP government, Sukhu said it had left Himachal with a debt of ₹75,000 crore, forcing the current administration to borrow simply to service old loans. He alleged that the BJP granted Sixth Pay Commission benefits just before the 2022 polls for political gain. Restoring the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), he said, was the first Cabinet decision—taken for employees’ welfare, not politics.

He accused the Central Government of withholding ₹1,600 crore in retaliation for the OPS rollout. Recalling the devastation of the 2023 monsoon disaster, Sukhu said 75,000 tourists were stranded across Kullu, Manali, Lahaul and Spiti, and that the state restored roads, water and supplies within days. He noted that while a central team pegged losses at ₹9,300 crore, Himachal received just ₹500 crore. The state, he said, announced its own relief package of ₹4,500 crore and revised norms to ease assistance.

A total of 23,000 houses were damaged, and the government offered ₹7 lakh to each affected family for reconstruction. Sukhu accused the previous BJP regime of corruption, citing allotment of 4,500 bighas of public land for ₹1.32 crore, customised industrial concessions and subsidised power at ₹3 per unit to select units. He said the BJP renewed wine contracts for ₹450 crore over four years, while his government earned the same amount in just one year through transparent auction.

He also highlighted the recovery of ₹350 crore in the Wildflower Hall case and ₹250 crore from JSW, adding that the funds were deposited directly into the state treasury.

Predicting a stronger mandate in 2027, Sukhu said the Congress would win 52 seats. Congress in-charge for Himachal Rajni Patil praised the government’s performance, calling it a “significant milestone” and claiming that six major guarantees had been fulfilled. She lauded the government’s anti-drug campaign and focus on economic and social welfare.

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri delivered one of the rally’s strongest speeches, calling the event a “warning bell” for those “hoping to win elections from their homes.” He said Himachal was built by Congress governments and granted statehood through the efforts of the Gandhi family, alleging that the BJP had opposed it.

Agnihotri claimed BJP leaders had gone to Delhi to obstruct central aid, saying ₹1,200 crore under the Jal Jeevan Mission and ₹1,500 crore announced by the Prime Minister remained pending. He reiterated that OPS was restored in the interest of employees and questioned the Centre’s resistance to it. He also warned government officials allegedly aligning with BJP leaders that strict action would follow.

HPCC president Vinay Kumar said the past three years had been among the hardest due to natural disasters but praised the government for working around the clock to support affected families. He targeted Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut, saying she had not visited disaster-hit areas during the crisis.

A coffee-table book documenting three years of development work was released at the event, where gallantry awardees and sportspersons were also honoured.

Notably, PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh and former HPCC president Pratibha Singh were absent. The rally, marked by fiery speeches and clear political messaging, signaled the start of an assertive campaign phase for the Congress as it seeks to strengthen its position ahead of the 2027 electoral battle.

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