Yog Raj Sharma
The North News
Shimla, November 8
As Himachal Pradesh’s Congress government nears its third anniversary, the state’s political climate is heating up ahead of local body elections. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has intensified his attack on the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), describing its internal divisions as “the five Pandavas of Kalyug.” Sukhu’s remark came amid mounting political sparring between the ruling and opposition camps, with the BJP accusing the government of failing to deliver on promises and mishandling disaster relief. The chief minister, however, turned the tables, accusing the BJP of playing politics over the state’s suffering.
“The Pandavas fought for truth and justice,” Sukhu said at a recent event, “but the BJP’s Pandavas are fighting for falsehood. They never fought for Himachal’s rights. After ₹1,500 crore was announced for disaster relief, did any BJP leader go to the Prime Minister to ensure the funds were released?”
Sukhu alleged that BJP legislators had opposed a Congress-sponsored resolution in the Assembly following the devastating 2023 natural calamity. “They are trying to mask their failures by pretending to be saviours,” he said. “If the BJP truly wants to help Himachal’s disaster-affected people, I am ready to walk with them to seek aid from the Centre.”
Earlier, BJP MP Anurag Thakur had responded sharply to Sukhu’s claim, saying that the BJP’s “five Pandavas will overpower the Kauravas in Himachal.”
The war of words marks a significant escalation in Himachal’s pre-election narrative, where both parties are vying to project themselves as defenders of the state’s interests.
