Political Tensions Rise in Himachal Pradesh Amid Raksha Bandhan Celebrations

Ongoing Political Dispute Intensifies

Shimla: The ongoing verbal clash between Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and BJP MLA Sudhir Sharma took a new turn on Saturday, August 9, 2025, coinciding with the Raksha Bandhan festival.

In a Facebook message, Sudhir Sharma extended his wishes to the women of Himachal but included a pointed remark. He expressed confidence that the state's 'matrashakti' had received the Rs 1,500 that the Chief Minister had promised. His message, written in Hindi, was a clear jab at Sukhu regarding the government's incomplete electoral commitment to provide monthly financial assistance to women.

Sukhu Questions Sudhir's Financial Contributions

Earlier, CM Sukhu criticized Sudhir Sharma for his substantial donations, which included Rs 51 lakh for disaster relief in Seraj and Rs 21 lakh for another initiative. Sukhu expressed skepticism about the source of these funds, questioning whether Sudhir had actually withdrawn such amounts from his bank account. He suggested that the origins of this money should be scrutinized, especially in light of Sudhir's recent party switch. Sukhu also revived past allegations concerning the distribution of Kangra Bank funds during a byelection involving Sudhir's wife, quipping, 'One who himself is in disgrace, preaches others.'

Background of the Feud

The rivalry between Sukhu and Sharma has roots in the Rajya Sabha elections held on February 27, 2024. During this election, Sudhir Sharma and five other Congress MLAs voted for BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan, resulting in the defeat of Congress's Abhishek Manu Singhvi. The following day, all six MLAs were absent from the budget session and were subsequently disqualified by Speaker Kuldeep Pathania. Since then, the exchanges between Sukhu and Sharma have become increasingly personal, filled with sarcasm and mutual accusations.