BJP accuses Himachal CM Sukhu of record debt, corruption in single term
Synopsis
BJP's Rajinder Rana has accused Himachal CM Sukhvinder Sukhu of doing in one term what took the state decades — piling up record debt — while allegedly running governance through a 'syndicate of favourites', stalling development, and quietly lining up public assets for privatisation.
Key Takeaways
BJP spokesperson Rajinder Rana accused CM Sukhvinder Sukhu of accumulating the highest debt in Himachal Pradesh's history within a single term.
The party alleged the government borrowed new loans to repay old ones, with no visible development on the ground despite Central funds for highways and disaster relief.
Rana claimed a record number of OSDs, advisers, and media advisers have been appointed, burdening the state exchequer for political patronage.
The state-run Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) is reportedly facing an unprecedented financial crisis, with bus routes discontinued and shortages of diesel and spare parts.
BJP alleged the government plans to hand over HPTDC hotels and Himachal Niketan in New Delhi to private entrepreneurs without public disclosure.
The Sukhu government had not issued a public response to the allegations at the time of reporting.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday accused Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu of accumulating the highest debt in the state's history within a single term, alleging widespread corruption, political patronage, and deteriorating public infrastructure. The charges were levelled at a press conference in Shimla by BJP spokesperson Rajinder Rana.
Record Debt and Financial Mismanagement
Rana alleged that while Himachal Pradesh took several decades after attaining statehood to build up its earlier debt burden, the present government has borrowed a record amount in a single term, pushing the state toward what he described as a severe financial crisis. He claimed the government was borrowing fresh loans simply to repay existing ones, with no visible development on the ground.
Despite receiving thousands of crores from the Centre for National Highways, disaster relief, and development projects, Rana alleged that roads remain in poor condition, bridges are damaged, and rural connectivity continues to suffer.
Syndicate of Favourites, Say BJP Leaders
'Himachal Pradesh is no longer being governed by a democratic government but by a syndicate of favourites,' Rana said. He alleged that from key decisions in the Secretariat to departmental appointments, the influence of this syndicate is visible everywhere.
The former legislator claimed that taxpayers' money is being spent not on development but on maintaining dozens of Officers on Special Duty (OSDs), advisers, media advisers, and politically appointed individuals. He contrasted this with the tenures of former Chief Ministers Dr Y.S. Parmar, Shanta Kumar, Prem Kumar Dhumal, Virbhadra Singh, and Jairam Thakur, during which political appointments were reportedly limited.
Infrastructure, Services, and Public Sector in Decline
Rana alleged that Himachal Pradesh is witnessing deterioration across infrastructure, education, healthcare, and tourism. The state-run Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) is reportedly facing an unprecedented financial crisis, with several bus routes discontinued and shortages of diesel and spare parts reported. Employees are said to be facing delays in financial benefits, while pensioners continue to struggle.
Privatisation of Public Assets Alleged
The BJP leader also accused the Sukhu government of preparing to hand over profitable public assets to private interests. He alleged that revenue-generating hotels of the state-run Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) and key government properties, including Himachal Niketan in New Delhi, are being lined up for transfer to private entrepreneurs. Rana questioned why these decisions were not being placed before the public if the government's intentions were transparent.
Political Vendetta Charges
Beyond financial allegations, Rana accused the Chief Minister of registering the highest number of what he called frivolous cases against political opponents, driven by political vendetta. He also alleged that the government favoured its own people in acts of corruption. The Sukhu government has not yet responded publicly to these specific charges.
With Himachal Pradesh's fiscal position under scrutiny and assembly sessions approaching, the BJP's offensive signals that debt management and governance accountability will remain central political battlegrounds in the state.
Point of View
But without audited figures or a Comptroller and Auditor General citation, they remain political charges. What is harder to dismiss is the HRTC crisis — a public-sector transport utility visibly struggling affects ordinary commuters, not just balance sheets. The privatisation angle, if accurate, would mark a significant policy shift for a Congress government that campaigned on protecting public assets. The Sukhu administration's silence on specifics, rather than a point-by-point rebuttal, risks letting the narrative harden against it ahead of the next political cycle.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What has BJP alleged against Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Sukhu?
BJP has accused CM Sukhvinder Sukhu of accumulating the highest debt in Himachal Pradesh's history within a single term, running governance through political favourites, registering cases against opponents out of vendetta, and planning to privatise public assets including HPTDC hotels and Himachal Niketan in New Delhi.
What is the current financial situation of Himachal Pradesh according to BJP?
According to BJP spokesperson Rajinder Rana, the state is in a severe financial crisis, borrowing new loans to repay old ones. He alleged that despite receiving Central funds for highways and disaster relief, infrastructure has deteriorated and the HRTC is facing an unprecedented crisis with discontinued bus routes and fuel shortages.
Which public assets is BJP alleging the Sukhu government plans to privatise?
BJP alleges the government intends to hand over revenue-generating hotels run by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) and Himachal Niketan, a government property in New Delhi, to private entrepreneurs without adequate public disclosure.
How does the current government's appointment of advisers compare to previous governments?
BJP's Rajinder Rana claimed that under former Chief Ministers including Dr Y.S. Parmar, Shanta Kumar, Prem Kumar Dhumal, Virbhadra Singh, and Jairam Thakur, political appointments were limited. He alleged the Sukhu government has appointed a record number of OSDs, advisers, and media advisers, placing an unnecessary burden on the state exchequer.
Has the Himachal Pradesh government responded to BJP's allegations?
The Sukhu government had not issued a public response to these specific allegations at the time of reporting. NationPress will update this report when an official response is available.
