Himachal CM Sukhu targets BJP's debt legacy, unveils pension and dairy reforms
Synopsis
Himachal CM Sukhu used a Mandi public meeting to do two things at once: relitigate the BJP's fiscal record — pointing to alleged misuse of ₹60,000 crore in Central funds — and roll out fresh welfare pledges, including a ₹1,500 monthly pension for women above 21 and milk prices nearly doubled for dairy farmers. The announcements are a clear signal of electoral positioning ahead of assembly dynamics.
Key Takeaways
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu addressed a public meeting in Balh constituency, Mandi district on 26 September 2026 , attacking the previous BJP government's fiscal record.
Sukhu alleged the BJP misused approximately ₹60,000 crore in GST compensation and Revenue Deficit Grant funds during its tenure.
The Congress government restored the Old Pension Scheme , which reportedly led the Centre to withhold ₹1,600 crore in financial assistance.
Milk procurement price raised from ₹32 per litre (BJP era) to ₹61 per litre (cow's milk) and ₹71 per litre (buffalo milk).
Eligibility for Mukhya Mantri Ka Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar Yojana expanded — MGNREGA work requirement removed, income ceiling raised to ₹75,000 .
All eligible women above 21 years to receive a monthly pension of ₹1,500 .
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday, 26 September launched a pointed attack on the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at a large public meeting in the Balh Assembly constituency of Mandi district, accusing it of pushing the state into a debt trap and misusing public funds. Alongside the political salvo, Sukhu announced several welfare measures, including expanded pension eligibility and higher milk procurement prices.
BJP's 'Double-Engine' Model Under Fire
Addressing the gathering, Sukhu alleged that Himachal Pradesh received approximately ₹60,000 crore through Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation and the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) during the BJP's tenure, but the funds were not utilised properly. He argued that the party's much-touted 'double-engine' government model had resulted in fiscal mismanagement rather than development.
The Chief Minister added that the state's Congress government, which came to power roughly 45 months ago, restored the Old Pension Scheme for state employees in its very first Cabinet meeting — a decision that reportedly prompted the Centre to halt approximately ₹1,600 crore in financial assistance to the state.
Rebuilding After Natural Disasters
Sukhu acknowledged that his government had faced compounded pressures — natural calamities alongside political turbulence. He said the state rebuilt around 23,000 damaged houses using its own resources following recent disasters, without leaning on Central aid. He credited public support and what he described as the blessings of the state's deities for helping the Congress tally of MLAs rise back to 40.
Kishau Project and Fiscal Savings
On the Kishau Multipurpose Project, Sukhu claimed his government's handling had shielded Himachal Pradesh from an additional burden of ₹3,000 crore — citing Uttarakhand's experience as a cautionary contrast. He said the project holds the potential to generate annual revenue of ₹1,200 crore to ₹1,500 crore for the state in the future.
Welfare Announcements: Pensions, Dairy and MGNREGA
In a series of targeted announcements, Sukhu highlighted a near-doubling of milk procurement prices under his administration. The rate for cow's milk has been raised from ₹32 per litre under the BJP government to ₹61 per litre, while buffalo milk now fetches ₹71 per litre, with the Chief Minister promising further increases.
Sukhu also announced revisions to the Mukhya Mantri Ka Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar Yojana. The mandatory requirement of working one day under MGNREGA will be removed, and the family income ceiling for eligibility will be raised from ₹50,000 to ₹75,000. Additionally, all eligible women above the age of 21 years will receive a monthly pension of ₹1,500.
The Chief Minister also flagged financial benefits being extended to government employees, pensioners, orphaned children, and widows as part of the administration's broader welfare push.
Political Aside on Balh
Wrapping up his address with a local political note, Sukhu remarked that had Congress candidate Prakash Chaudhary won the Balh Assembly election, he would today be a minister in the state government — a statement that underscored the constituency's continuing significance to the party's calculus in Mandi district.
With assembly dynamics in flux and the government's welfare commitments piling up against fiscal constraints, how Himachal Pradesh manages its debt burden over the next year will be the real measure of Sukhu's claims against his predecessors.
Point of View
Including the Centre cutting ₹1,600 crore in aid after the Old Pension Scheme was restored. The claim of saving ₹3,000 crore on the Kishau project is striking but requires independent verification; Uttarakhand's situation is cited as a comparator but not elaborated. Critically, doubling milk procurement prices is a substantive farmer-facing move, but its long-term fiscal sustainability in a debt-stressed state is the question mainstream coverage rarely asks. The Balh remark about Prakash Chaudhary signals that Sukhu is already mapping assembly losses and making constituency-level promises — a pattern that suggests the next election cycle is never far from view.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What welfare measures did CM Sukhu announce at the Mandi public meeting?
Chief Minister Sukhu announced a monthly pension of ₹1,500 for all eligible women above 21 years, revisions to the Mukhya Mantri Ka Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar Yojana — including removal of the MGNREGA work requirement and raising the income ceiling from ₹50,000 to ₹75,000 — and increased milk procurement prices for dairy farmers.
What is the new milk procurement price in Himachal Pradesh?
The Sukhu government has raised the milk procurement price to ₹61 per litre for cow's milk and ₹71 per litre for buffalo milk, up from ₹32 per litre under the previous BJP government. The Chief Minister indicated further increases would follow.
Why did the Centre stop ₹1,600 crore in financial assistance to Himachal Pradesh?
According to Chief Minister Sukhu, the Centre halted approximately ₹1,600 crore in financial assistance after the Congress government restored the Old Pension Scheme for state employees in its first Cabinet meeting. The Centre's position on this has not been independently elaborated in official statements cited.
What did Sukhu say about the Kishau Multipurpose Project?
Sukhu claimed his government's handling of the Kishau Multipurpose Project saved Himachal Pradesh from an additional fiscal burden of ₹3,000 crore, contrasting it with Uttarakhand's experience. He said the project could generate annual revenue of ₹1,200 crore to ₹1,500 crore for the state in the future.
What was Sukhu's main allegation against the previous BJP government in Himachal Pradesh?
Sukhu alleged that the BJP government misused approximately ₹60,000 crore received through GST compensation and the Revenue Deficit Grant during its tenure, pushing the state into a debt trap under its 'double-engine' governance model. He made the remarks at a public meeting in the Balh Assembly constituency of Mandi district on 26 September.
