BJP mourns Major Vijay Singh Mankotia, ex-Himachal minister, dead at 87
Synopsis
Major Vijay Singh Mankotia, who served the Indian Army before representing Shahpur constituency five times and holding key ministerial portfolios in Himachal Pradesh, died at 87 on Tuesday. His passing drew condolences from across the BJP's national and state leadership, underscoring the rare dual legacy — soldier and legislator — that defined his nearly four-decade public career.
Key Takeaways
Major Vijay Singh Mankotia , former Himachal Pradesh minister and veteran BJP leader, passed away on Tuesday, 29 September at the age of 87 .
He represented the Shahpur Assembly constituency in Kangra district five times and served as minister twice , holding Tourism , Civil Aviation , and Law portfolios.
Before entering politics, he served as an officer in the Indian Army , a background that shaped his public persona.
Condolences were expressed by Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda , former CMs Jai Ram Thakur , Prem Kumar Dhumal , and Shanta Kumar , among other senior leaders.
His political career spanned nearly four decades in Himachal Pradesh 's public life.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s national and state leadership on Tuesday, 29 September expressed condolences over the passing of Major Vijay Singh Mankotia, a former Himachal Pradesh minister and veteran political figure who died at the age of 87. The former Army officer had served the state across nearly four decades in public life.
Leaders Who Paid Tribute
Among those who conveyed their condolences were Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, former Union Minister and Member of Parliament Anurag Thakur, BJP state President Rajeev Bindal, Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, and former Chief Ministers Prem Kumar Dhumal and Shanta Kumar. Members of Parliament Suresh Kashyap, Rajeev Bhardwaj, Kangana Ranaut, Sikander Kumar, and Harsh Mahajan, along with state Organisation General Secretary Siddharthan, also extended their sympathies to the bereaved family.
A Life of Dual Service — Army and Politics
Major Mankotia's public life was defined by a rare combination of military discipline and political commitment. Before entering electoral politics, he served as an officer in the Indian Army — a background that, according to party leaders, shaped his forthright and fearless approach throughout his subsequent career. He represented the Shahpur Assembly constituency in Kangra district on five occasions and served as a minister in the state government twice, holding portfolios including Tourism, Civil Aviation, and Law.
What Party Leaders Said
Union Minister Nadda described the loss as significant for Himachal Pradesh's public life, stating that Major Mankotia's contributions — both as a soldier and as an elected representative — would always be remembered. He prayed for peace for the departed soul and strength for the grieving family.
State party chief Bindal called him 'an experienced, outspoken and fearless public leader whose long political career witnessed several important phases in the state's history.' Bindal added: 'From serving the nation as a soldier to serving the people as an elected representative and minister, Major Vijay Singh Mankotia devoted a significant part of his life to the country and Himachal Pradesh. His demise is an irreparable loss to the state's public life.'
Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur noted that Major Mankotia's decades-long association with Kangra, particularly the Shahpur region, his political experience, and his forthright personality would endure in the memory of the people he served. Former Chief Ministers Dhumal and Shanta Kumar similarly recalled his sustained contribution to the state's political and public life.
Legacy and Significance
Over a political career spanning close to four decades, Major Mankotia carved out a distinct identity in Himachal Pradesh's public sphere. The BJP leadership emphasised that he would be remembered not solely as a politician, but equally for his Army service, his administrative experience, and his willingness to speak plainly on public issues. This comes at a time when Himachal Pradesh's political landscape is navigating a period of transition, making the loss of a figure with such institutional memory particularly notable.
Funeral and condolence arrangements were not immediately detailed in official statements.
Point of View
Stretching from the Union cabinet to sitting MPs and multiple former chief ministers, reflects how deeply his four-decade career intersected with the BJP's institutional history in the hill state. What mainstream coverage tends to underplay is that five consecutive wins in Shahpur signal not just party loyalty but genuine local rootedness — something that cannot be manufactured by central deployment. Himachal Pradesh is currently under Congress governance, and the loss of such an experienced opposition voice, however retired, does thin the BJP's pool of credible institutional memory at a moment when the party needs it most.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Major Vijay Singh Mankotia?
Major Vijay Singh Mankotia was a former Himachal Pradesh minister and veteran BJP leader who passed away on Tuesday, 29 September at the age of 87. Before entering politics, he served as an officer in the Indian Army, and went on to represent the Shahpur Assembly constituency in Kangra district five times over a political career spanning nearly four decades.
Which portfolios did Major Mankotia hold as a minister?
Major Mankotia served as a minister in the Himachal Pradesh state government on two occasions, handling portfolios including Tourism, Civil Aviation, and Law. His administrative experience across these departments was frequently cited by BJP leaders in their tributes.
Which BJP leaders expressed condolences over his death?
Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, former Union Minister and MP Anurag Thakur, BJP state President Rajeev Bindal, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, and former Chief Ministers Prem Kumar Dhumal and Shanta Kumar were among those who paid tribute. MPs Kangana Ranaut, Suresh Kashyap, Rajeev Bhardwaj, Sikander Kumar, and Harsh Mahajan also conveyed condolences.
How long was Major Mankotia's political career?
Major Mankotia's political career spanned nearly four decades, during which he established a distinct identity in Himachal Pradesh's public and political life. He is particularly associated with the Shahpur region of Kangra district, where he won assembly elections five times.
What made Major Mankotia's public life distinctive?
BJP leaders described his life as a rare combination of national service and public service — first as an Indian Army officer and then as an elected representative and minister. His military background was said to have shaped his discipline, forthrightness, and fearless approach to public issues throughout his political career.
