SHIMLA, March 19: A confrontational day in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly saw Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Leader of Opposition Jairam (Jai Ram) Thakur trade sharp charges over alleged wasteful spending on government buildings, even as the BJP submitted a formal privilege notice against the chief minister ahead of the budget session’s second phase.
The confrontation began after Bhoranj MLA Suresh Kumar moved the Motion of Thanks on the Governor’s address and raised allegations of “fizoolkharchi” (extravagance) — citing a cluster of rest houses and government buildings that, he said, remain unused. Jai Ram Thakur hit back, accusing the government of halted development and unfulfilled budget promises, and demanded specific details about the allegedly idle projects.
What BJP alleges; what the notice seeks
The BJP’s privilege notice, signed by more than 20 legislators and submitted under Rule 75, lists 11 instances where the Opposition says Sukhu presented misleading or incomplete information in budget speeches from 2023–24 to 2025–26. The notice questions flagship promises such as the Green Energy target for 2026, replacement of HRTC buses, an EV subsidy plan, a Rs 1,311 crore tourism mega plan and welfare disbursements — and asks the Speaker to refer the matter to the privileges committee.
Sukhu replied forcefully on the floor, accusing the Opposition of politicising infrastructure and defending his government’s choices. He said the administration would table maps and details of the buildings cited and argued that some projects were part of long-term plans that could not be judged by immediate occupancy alone. Officials point out fiscal constraints, reduced central assistance and delays due to pandemic-era disruptions as complicating factors.
Political and administrative fallout
Legislators from both sides raised wider complaints — from stalled recruitment and delayed welfare payouts to leasing of HPTDC properties and alleged mismanagement of funds. The Opposition said cutting cabinet-rank privileges was cosmetic unless substantive reforms followed; the government maintained that financial discipline required difficult decisions. With the privilege notice now before Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania, the Assembly may see sharper confrontations and documentary demands in the coming days.
What to watch next
The Speaker must decide whether to admit the privilege notice and refer it for committee scrutiny — a process that could compel production of government records and slow the budget proceedings. Observers say the episode highlights a broader political battle over implementation, accountability and the pace of development in a fiscally constrained state.
