CM Sukhu: Rahul Gandhi happy with my work, BJP spreading lies
Synopsis
HP CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu invokes Rahul Gandhi and Rajni Patil's backing, declares he is in office for the long term, and accuses BJP of spreading daily lies on social media to deflect attention from FIRs against corrupt leaders.
Key Takeaways
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated on 1 August 2026 that Rahul Gandhi and HP Congress in-charge Rajni Patil are satisfied with his governance.
He reaffirmed his commitment to serving Himachal Pradesh for the long term, repeating a position he has stated previously.
Sukhu accused the BJP of running a deliberate, daily social-media campaign of false narratives to distract the public.
He linked the BJP's campaign directly to FIRs registered against what he called 'corrupt leaders.' The Congress has governed Himachal Pradesh since winning the December 2022 assembly elections.
With political whispers swirling about his leadership, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu went on the offensive on Saturday, 1 August 2026 — invoking the backing of the Congress high command and accusing the BJP of manufacturing daily falsehoods on social media to distract from corruption cases against its own leaders.
In a pointed post on X, Sukhu declared: 'जननायक श्री राहुल गांधी जी और प्रभारी श्रीमती रजनी पाटिल जी मेरी कार्यशैली से खुश हैं।' ('People's leader Rahul Gandhi and party in-charge Rajni Patil are happy with my working style.') He added that he had said it before and was repeating it again — he had come to serve the state for the long haul.
The FIR flashpoint and the counter-narrative war
The sharpest line in Sukhu's post was a direct accusation: that FIRs registered against 'corrupt leaders' had rattled the BJP so badly that it was now running a 'planned, daily campaign of fresh lies' on social media to divert public attention. He did not name the leaders or the specific cases, but the framing was deliberate — casting the opposition's online offensive as panic, not politics.
The BJP has been the principal opposition in Himachal Pradesh since the Congress won the December 2022 assembly elections and brought Sukhu to power. Political friction between the two parties over governance decisions has been a consistent feature of the state's political landscape since then.
Sukhu plants the high-command shield
By naming both Rahul Gandhi — the Congress's national face — and Rajni Patil, the party's Himachal Pradesh in-charge, Sukhu was doing something calculated. He was not just reassuring supporters; he was signalling to internal doubters that any move against him would require overruling two senior figures in the party hierarchy. The message to Congress workers was blunt: 'निश्चिंत रहिए' — 'rest easy.'
That phrasing matters. Chief Ministers do not typically urge their own workers to 'rest easy' unless there is genuine unease to address. The post reads as much as an internal party communication as a public one.
Whether the BJP responds publicly — or lets the social-media battle continue at the level it already occupies — will be the next signal in what is shaping up as a prolonged war of narratives in the hill state.
Point of View
Sukhu's framing may stick.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did CM Sukhu say Congress workers should 'rest easy'?
Sukhu used the phrase to reassure Congress workers and supporters amid what he implied were BJP-driven rumours about his leadership, signalling that both Rahul Gandhi and HP in-charge Rajni Patil back him fully.
What FIRs is CM Sukhu referring to?
Sukhu referred to FIRs registered against what he described as 'corrupt leaders,' suggesting cases linked to BJP figures, though he did not name individuals or cases in his post.
Is Rahul Gandhi involved in Himachal Pradesh politics?
Rahul Gandhi, as a senior Congress leader, holds significant influence over state governments run by the party. Sukhu cited his approval as a mark of central backing for his administration.
Who is Rajni Patil and what is her role in Himachal Pradesh?
Rajni Patil is a Congress leader appointed as the party's in-charge for Himachal Pradesh, responsible for overseeing party affairs and acting as a link between the state unit and the central leadership.
When did Congress come to power in Himachal Pradesh?
The Indian National Congress won the Himachal Pradesh assembly elections in December 2022 and formed the government with Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu as Chief Minister.
