CM Sukhu to pay tribute at MLA Nand Lal's last rites in Devthi
Synopsis
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu will attend the funeral of late Nand Lal — Rampur MLA and Chairman of the 7th State Finance Commission — at his ancestral village Devthi. The passing leaves a vacancy in a key constitutional body that governs fiscal transfers to local bodies.
Key Takeaways
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced he will attend the last rites of late Nand Lal at village Devthi on 4 November 2026 .
The late Nand Lal was the sitting MLA from Rampur assembly constituency in Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh.
He also served as Chairman of the 7th State Finance Commission , a constitutionally mandated body advising on fiscal devolution to local bodies.
The chairmanship of the 7th State Finance Commission now stands vacant, requiring a government appointment.
CM Sukhu's visit reflects the standard practice of chief ministers attending the last rites of sitting legislators across party lines.
A sitting MLA and the head of a key constitutional body is gone — and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced on Wednesday, 4 November 2026 that he will travel to the ancestral village of Devthi to offer his last respects in person.
CM Sukhu posted on X: 'aaj Rampur Vidhansabha kshetra ke vidhayak evam 7ve Rajya Vitta Aayog ke adhyaksh sv. Shri Nand Lal ji ke paitrik gaon Devthi mein unke antim sanskar mein shamil hokar shraddhanjali arpit karunga' — meaning he would attend the funeral of the late Nand Lal at his ancestral village Devthi and pay his tributes.
Who was Nand Lal — MLA and Finance Commission chief
The late Nand Lal served as the legislator from the Rampur assembly constituency in Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh. Beyond his legislative role, he held the chairmanship of the 7th State Finance Commission — a statutory body constitutionally mandated to recommend how state funds are devolved to panchayats and municipalities across Himachal Pradesh. His passing removes from the scene a figure who straddled both the legislative and fiscal-governance wings of the state apparatus.
CM Sukhu's journey to Devthi — a tradition of the office
Chief ministers attending the last rites of sitting MLAs is a deeply ingrained ceremonial obligation in Indian political life, observed across party lines. By travelling to the village of Devthi, CM Sukhu signals both personal condolence and institutional acknowledgement of Nand Lal's dual role in public service. The gesture carries added weight given that Nand Lal was leading an active constitutional commission at the time of his passing.
With the chairmanship of the 7th State Finance Commission now vacant, the Himachal Pradesh government will need to move on a replacement — a decision that carries real consequence for the fiscal pipeline to local bodies across the state.
Point of View
And a prolonged vacancy could delay recommendations that local bodies depend on. CM Sukhu's public announcement of his personal attendance underlines the solemnity with which the Congress government is treating the event, but the administrative question of a successor for the commission chairmanship will test how swiftly the state machinery responds to an unplanned transition.
NationPress
4 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Nand Lal, the Himachal Pradesh MLA who passed away?
Nand Lal was the sitting MLA from the Rampur assembly constituency in Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh, and was also serving as the Chairman of the 7th State Finance Commission at the time of his passing.
What is the 7th State Finance Commission of Himachal Pradesh?
The 7th State Finance Commission is a statutory body set up by the Himachal Pradesh government under constitutional mandate to recommend how state funds should be devolved to local bodies such as panchayats and municipalities.
Where is Nand Lal's ancestral village Devthi located?
Devthi is the ancestral village of the late Nand Lal, situated in the Rampur assembly constituency area of Shimla district in Himachal Pradesh.
Why is CM Sukhu attending MLA Nand Lal's funeral?
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced he will attend Nand Lal's last rites at village Devthi to pay personal tribute — a standard ceremonial gesture by chief ministers at the funerals of sitting legislators in India.
What happens to the 7th State Finance Commission after Nand Lal's death?
With Nand Lal's passing, the chairmanship of the 7th State Finance Commission is vacant, and the Himachal Pradesh government will need to appoint a replacement to continue the commission's work on fiscal devolution to local bodies.
