Anurag Thakur mourns BJP veteran Major Vijay Singh Mankotia
Synopsis
BJP MP Anurag Thakur paid tribute to Major Vijay Singh Mankotia, a senior Himachal BJP leader, former MLA and minister from Shahpur in Kangra district, who passed away. Thakur called his death deeply saddening and prayed for strength for the bereaved family.
Key Takeaways
Major Vijay Singh Mankotia , senior BJP leader from Himachal Pradesh , passed away.
He was a former MLA from Shahpur assembly constituency in Kangra district and a former state minister.
Mankotia held the rank of Major in the Indian Army before entering politics.
BJP MP Anurag Thakur expressed condolences on 29 September 2026 via X.
Thakur described Mankotia as having dedicated his entire life to the motherland and public welfare.
A decorated soldier-turned-politician who gave his life to the hills of Himachal Pradesh is gone. BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Tuesday, 29 September 2026 expressed deep grief over the passing of Major Vijay Singh Mankotia, a senior BJP leader from Himachal Pradesh who served both in uniform and in public office.
Posting on X in Hindi, Thakur wrote: 'भारतीय जनता पार्टी, हिमाचल प्रदेश के वरिष्ठ नेता... मेजर विजय सिंह मनकोटिया जी के निधन का समाचार अत्यंत दुःखद है।' — 'The news of the passing of Major Vijay Singh Mankotia ji, senior leader of the BJP in Himachal Pradesh, is deeply saddening.' He added that Mankotia had 'dedicated his entire life to the service of the motherland and the welfare of the people.'
A soldier who carried public service into politics
Major Vijay Singh Mankotia represented the Shahpur assembly constituency in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh as a BJP MLA and also served as a minister in the state. Before entering electoral politics, he held the rank of Major in the Indian Army — a rare combination of military and legislative service that defined his public identity in the region.
Shahpur, nestled in the Kangra valley, is a constituency with deep roots in the BJP's Himachal base. Mankotia's long association with the party and the area made him a familiar face in district-level politics over several decades.
Thakur's condolences to family and supporters
Thakur extended his 'heartfelt condolences' to Mankotia's bereaved family and supporters, praying that 'God grant the departed soul a place at His feet and give the family the strength and fortitude to bear this grief.' He closed with the traditional Om Shanti — a solemn invocation of peace for the departed.
The post reflects the standard but sincere protocol of senior BJP leaders publicly acknowledging the loss of party veterans — a gesture that carries weight in the tightly knit political communities of Himachal's hill districts, where personal bonds between leaders and constituents run deep.
As Himachal BJP prepares to mourn one of its experienced voices, the memory of a man who served India first in uniform and then in public life will linger in the valleys of Kangra.
Point of View
Particularly in Himachal where the party has cultivated deep loyalties in Kangra. The condolence also signals an awareness of upcoming political cycles in the state, where visible gestures of solidarity with established families and supporter networks continue to matter. How prominently the state party organisation marks Mankotia's passing will be a signal of his standing in Himachal BJP's institutional memory.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Major Vijay Singh Mankotia?
Major Vijay Singh Mankotia was a senior BJP leader from Himachal Pradesh who served as a former MLA from Shahpur assembly constituency in Kangra district and also held a ministerial post in the state government. He previously served as a Major in the Indian Army.
Why did Anurag Thakur post about Major Vijay Singh Mankotia?
BJP MP Anurag Thakur posted a condolence message on X to mourn the passing of Major Vijay Singh Mankotia, a veteran BJP leader from Himachal Pradesh, expressing deep grief and offering prayers for the departed soul and his family.
Which constituency was Major Vijay Singh Mankotia from?
Major Vijay Singh Mankotia represented the Shahpur assembly constituency in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.
What did Anurag Thakur say about Major Mankotia?
Anurag Thakur said the news of Mankotia's passing was 'deeply saddening' and described him as someone who dedicated his entire life to the service of the motherland and the welfare of the people. He extended heartfelt condolences to Mankotia's family and supporters.
Was Major Vijay Singh Mankotia a former army officer?
Yes, Major Vijay Singh Mankotia held the rank of Major in the Indian Army before transitioning to politics as a BJP leader in Himachal Pradesh.
