Anurag Thakur: Modi's bond with Himachal keeps central projects on track

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Anurag Thakur: Modi's bond with Himachal keeps central projects on track

Synopsis

BJP MP Anurag Thakur credits PM Modi's personal affinity for Himachal Pradesh for keeping central projects on track, while accusing the state's Congress government of failing to contribute its mandatory funding share under Centrally Sponsored Schemes.

Key Takeaways

Anurag Thakur , BJP Lok Sabha MP from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh , posted on September 27, 2026 crediting PM Modi's attachment to the state for smooth central project delivery.
He accused the Congress-led Himachal Pradesh government of not releasing its mandatory matching share in multiple centrally sponsored schemes.
Under Centrally Sponsored Schemes , both central and state governments must contribute fixed shares; non-release by either side stalls project disbursal.
Himachal Pradesh has been governed by Congress since the 2022 state assembly elections , creating a BJP-Centre vs Congress-state political dynamic.
Thakur did not name specific projects or funding amounts in his post; the charge is a broad political framing typical of centre-state rivalry in India.

While central government infrastructure projects continue to move forward across Himachal Pradesh, BJP Lok Sabha MP Anurag Thakur has trained his fire on the state's Congress government — accusing it of failing to release its mandatory share of funding and thereby stalling progress that Delhi is willing to bankroll. Posting on X on Sunday, September 27, 2026, the Hamirpur MP drew a sharp contrast between what he called Prime Minister Narendra Modi's personal affection for the hill state and what he described as the Congress dispensation's abdication of its financial obligations.

Thakur's post, in Hindi, stated: 'Modi ji ka Himachal ke prati vishesh lagav hai isliye yahan par kendra ki itni pariyojanaon bina kisi badha ke chal rahi hain, jabki pradesh ki Congress sarkar kai saari pariyojanaon mein apni hissedari nahin nibha rahi hai.' Translated: 'Modi ji has a special attachment to Himachal, which is why so many central projects here are running without any hindrance — whereas the state's Congress government is not fulfilling its share in many of those projects.'

How centre-state project funding actually works

The charge Thakur is making has a concrete structural basis. Under Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), the Centre and state governments share project costs in fixed ratios — the exact split varies by scheme and by state category, but both parties must release their portions for work to proceed. When either side withholds its contribution, disbursements stall and timelines slip.

Himachal Pradesh, classified as a Special Category State, typically gets a more favourable central share — often as high as 90:10 on several flagship programmes. Even so, the state's matching contribution is a legal and procedural requirement. A state government that struggles with its fiscal position, or chooses to prioritise other spending, can fall behind on those releases — which then draws exactly this kind of political fire from the Centre's allies.

BJP vs Congress in Himachal: a familiar federal battle

The Congress party swept back to power in Himachal in the 2022 state assembly elections, ending a BJP term and installing a government at odds with the BJP-ruled Centre. That structural rivalry has coloured governance ever since. BJP leaders — including Thakur, who retains significant political weight in the state as a sitting MP and former Union minister — have repeatedly framed any friction in project delivery as a failure of the state government rather than a slowdown at the Centre.

The Congress government in Shimla, for its part, has raised its own concerns about the Centre's release of funds to the state, including delayed devolution and tied-up grants. The competing narratives are a staple of Indian federal politics wherever rival parties control Delhi and a state capital.

What Thakur's post signals politically

Thakur does not name specific projects or cite specific amounts — the post is a broad political framing rather than a granular audit. That framing serves a clear purpose: it positions the BJP as the guarantor of Himachal's development and the Congress state government as the obstruction. The timing and the 📍Himachal Pradesh geotag suggest a ground-level push to shape public opinion in a state where both parties have significant vote bases and where the next assembly election cycle will eventually reset the political board.

For ordinary Himachalis watching roads, power lines, or water schemes in their villages, the underlying question is concrete: are projects in their area actually moving? That answer — not political statements — will determine which narrative sticks.

Point of View

But it is also selectively framed; Congress-run Himachal has simultaneously raised its own complaints about delayed central releases. As Himachal Pradesh moves closer to its next electoral cycle, expect this narrative war over development credit to intensify, with infrastructure on the ground serving as the ultimate referendum on both governments.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Anurag Thakur say about Himachal Pradesh and central projects?
Thakur said PM Modi's special affection for Himachal Pradesh has kept central government projects running smoothly in the state, while the Congress state government is failing to contribute its share of funding to several schemes.
Why does the state government need to contribute funds to central projects?
Under Centrally Sponsored Schemes, project costs are shared between the Centre and the state in a fixed ratio. Both must release their respective portions for work to proceed; a state's failure to release its share can halt disbursals and delay timelines.
Which party governs Himachal Pradesh currently?
The Congress party has governed Himachal Pradesh since winning the state assembly elections in 2022, replacing the previous BJP government.
What is Anurag Thakur's political background and connection to Himachal Pradesh?
Anurag Thakur is a BJP Lok Sabha MP representing the Hamirpur constituency in Himachal Pradesh. He is a former Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, and Youth Affairs and Sports.
Does Thakur name specific projects being delayed by the Himachal Congress government?
No. Thakur's post does not name any specific projects or funding amounts; it is a broad political statement about the Congress state government's general failure to meet its funding obligations under central schemes.
Nation Press
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