Himachal Pradesh News
Himachal Budget 2026: BJP–Congress Clash Over RDG Cut Sparks Political Heat in Assembly
Speaking during the discussion on the 2026–27 Budget, Naina Devi MLA Randhir Sharma didn’t hold back. He accused the government of seeking “untied funds” from the Centre to spend without proper accountability.
Speaking during the discussion on the 2026–27 Budget, Naina Devi MLA Randhir Sharma didn’t hold back. He accused the government of seeking “untied funds” from the Centre to spend without proper accountability.
Sharma reminded the House that the phasing out of RDG was already recommended by the 15th Finance Commission, urging the Congress to rethink its pre-election guarantees made during the 2022 Assembly polls.
Taking a dig at Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Sharma described the Budget speech as more political than practical. According to him, instead of presenting a clear development roadmap, the Chief Minister spent much of his time attacking previous BJP governments at the Centre.
He also questioned Sukhu’s recent visit to Delhi, claiming it failed to yield any significant outcomes, including meetings with top central leadership.
📉 Concerns Over Fiscal Health
Raising concerns about the state’s financial condition, Sharma pointed out that Himachal’s committed liabilities have increased significantly, leaving limited funds for development work.
He suggested practical steps such as:
- Cutting unnecessary expenditure
- Improving excise and mining policies
- Promoting new tourist destinations
Calling the Budget “misleading,” Sharma accused the government of playing a “numbers game” rather than addressing real economic challenges.
🛑 Congress Hits Back, Blames Centre
Congress leaders, however, strongly pushed back against BJP’s claims, shifting the blame to the Centre.
Arki MLA Sanjay Awasthy argued that the reduction of ₹3,586 crore in the Budget size was directly linked to the Centre discontinuing RDG support.
He also criticized the lack of support from the BJP-led Centre in declaring recent rain disasters as a national disaster. Additionally, he highlighted that the state has not been compensated for providing ecological services worth ₹90,000 crore annually in the form of a Green Bonus.
Rohru MLA Mohan Lal Brakta termed the ₹4,000 crore RDG cut as unfair to the people, while Jogindernagar MLA Prakash Rana stressed the importance of fiscal discipline and reducing wasteful spending.
🌧️ Local Issues Also Take Center Stage
Beyond political arguments, several MLAs raised pressing local concerns.
Manali MLA Rajeshwar Gaur flagged repeated damage to the Kullu–Manali road, warning that it could severely impact tourism in the region.
Meanwhile, Nachan MLA Vinod Kumar raised alarm over a jaundice outbreak in Mandi district’s Gohar area, which has already claimed two lives and affected around 250 people.
⚖️ Politics vs Governance
The debate saw participation from several legislators, reflecting a mix of political confrontation and grassroots concerns.
While the BJP questioned the government’s financial strategy, the Congress defended its position by highlighting external constraints and federal issues.
As the Budget session progresses, one thing is clear — the RDG issue has become a major flashpoint, shaping both political narratives and policy discussions in Himachal Pradesh.
