CM Sukhu mourns passing of four-time MLA Nand Lal
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
A four-term legislator who shaped the floor of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly for decades has gone silent. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 the passing of MLA Nand Lal, calling the loss irreplaceable for everyone who knew him.
Writing in Hindi, Chief Minister Sukhu said: 'नंद लाल जी का निधन हम सभी के लिए अपूरणीय क्षति है' — 'The passing of Nand Lal Ji is an irreparable loss for all of us.' He noted that despite every effort by doctors, Nand Lal could not be saved.
The grief carried a deeply personal weight. Sukhu disclosed that he had met Nand Lal just the day before his death, describing him as someone who was extremely close to him. 'He always presented his views in the Assembly with great composure,' the Chief Minister wrote. 'His personality was remarkably simple.'
A son's quiet dignity amid loss
Even in the immediate shadow of bereavement, Nand Lal's family showed quiet composure. Sukhu revealed he spoke with Nand Lal's son over the phone — and it was the son who urged the Chief Minister to continue with his scheduled programme. 'He told me: please carry on with your planned commitments,' Sukhu wrote. The final rites are to be held the following day, and the Chief Minister confirmed he will attend.
Four terms of calm, steady service
Nand Lal served four terms as a member of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly — a record that places him among the most durable legislators in the hill state's political history. The Himachal assembly is a compact house of 68 seats, where long-serving members often build bonds that cut across party lines. Nand Lal's reputation, by the Chief Minister's account, rested not on bluster but on measured, dignified participation — a rare note in any legislature.
In Himachal Pradesh, the death of a sitting or former MLA typically prompts a formal obituary motion at the next session of the assembly. Colleagues from both sides of the aisle are expected to pay tribute, and the assembly is customarily adjourned briefly as a mark of respect.
For Chief Minister Sukhu and the Congress benches in Shimla, the loss is both political and personal — a reminder that the bonds forged inside a small mountain legislature run deeper than any division bell.