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Uproar in Himachal Assembly: Opposition Storms the Well After Minister Negi’s Remarks
A heated confrontation erupted in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly after Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi made sharp remarks against BJP leadership. The Opposition, led by Jai Ram Thakur, stormed the Well of the House, forcing the Speaker to adjourn proceedings. Tensions escalated during a debate on Panchayat elections amid allegations of financial mismanagement, misuse of central agencies, and delays in local body polls.
Opposition Storms the Well After Minister Negi’s Remarks; Speaker Adjourns Himachal Assembly
The second day of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly’s winter session on Thursday was marked by intense uproar after Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi made sharp comments against the BJP leadership. Led by Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, the entire Opposition rushed to the Well of the House, prompting Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania to adjourn proceedings until after lunch.
The disruption began during a debate on an adjournment motion relating to the standoff between the state government and the State Election Commission over Panchayat polls. Responding to the motion, Minister Negi launched a personal attack on the Opposition—particularly former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur—accusing him of pushing the state into a deep financial crisis.
Thakur, who was in the Opposition lounge at the time, returned to the House immediately to object, calling the remarks “unparliamentary” and demanding that the minister withdraw them. Negi, however, continued his criticism and accused the BJP of dividing people “in the name of religion,” escalating tensions between both sides.
As the situation heated up, BJP MLAs rose from their seats, shouted slogans, and stormed the Well of the House. Speaker Pathania repeatedly appealed to the members to return to their seats and allow the session to continue, but the Opposition refused to relent. With no breakthrough in sight, the Speaker adjourned the House until after the lunch break.
When the session resumed, Minister Negi stood up to continue his speech, but the entire Opposition staged a walkout in protest. Negi went on to level serious allegations against the BJP, accusing it of weakening democratic institutions and misusing central agencies like the ED and CBI to silence critics. He claimed that 75 non-BJP MPs and MLAs were facing fabricated cases. The Speaker urged him to stick to the adjournment motion or conclude his remarks, but Negi remained firm. He further alleged that the BJP had politicised the Army, calling it detrimental to democracy.
Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh told the House that the government had held detailed discussions on the delay in Panchayat polls. He said the process would require 21,147 booths and nearly 45,000 officials and staff—including 10,000 security personnel—with an estimated cost of around ₹100 crore. He added that no formal announcement on the delay had been made yet as the Disaster Management Act remains in force. The elections would follow the 2011 census, while the roster—last revised in 2010—is being reviewed after 15 years. The OBC data remains based on the 1995 census.
Speaker Pathania concluded the debate on the adjournment motion with the consensus of both Treasury and Opposition benches, noting that it had stretched on too long. However, when he called for a vote, all BJP MLAs walked out of the House. In their absence, the Treasury benches rejected the motion through a voice vote.
