SHIMLA |The second day of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Budget Session witnessed a high-stakes showdown today as Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu locked horns with the opposition over central grants, while a fresh controversy erupted regarding the accountability of state bureaucrats.
Sukhu Dismisses Anurag Thakur’s “Warning Letter” Claims
Addressing the media on the sidelines of the House, Chief Minister Sukhu categorically rejected claims made by former Union Minister Anurag Thakur regarding a “warning letter” from the Centre. Thakur had reportedly suggested that the state was warned about the discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) prior to the 16th Finance Commission’s report.
- “No Iota of Truth”: The CM stated there was no such advisory in the public domain or private correspondence.
- Call for Bipartisan Unity: Sukhu urged the state’s MPs to set aside party lines and meet Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to safeguard the interests of the hill state, which faces a massive fiscal gap following the RDG’s abolition.
Legislators vs. Bureaucracy: The “Unanswered Calls” Row
A significant portion of today’s proceedings was dominated by resentment from elected representatives toward state officials.
- The Grievance: Congress MLA Rakesh Kalia (Gagret) raised a stinging point in the House, alleging that senior officers frequently ignore phone calls from MLAs.
- Legislative Demand: Kalia demanded that the telephone allowance provided to these officers be immediately scrapped if they fail to remain accessible to public representatives. The sentiment was echoed by several members, prompting the Speaker to take note of the growing “disconnect” between the executive and the legislature.
Legislative Business and Bills
Despite the political sparring, the House moved forward with key legislative items:
- Local Governance: The Assembly formally cleared the HP Municipal Corporation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2026, which extends the tenure of Mayors and Deputy Mayors from 2.5 years to 5 years.
- RERA Reform: The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill was also passed, officially replacing the Chief Justice with the Chief Secretary as the head of the selection committee for RERA members.
The Fiscal Outlook
The House remains in a state of high tension as the government prepares to present the 2026-27 Annual Budget in March. The discontinuation of the RDG, which historically accounted for nearly 12.7% of the state’s revenue, remains the central point of conflict.
“This is not about one party; it is about the rights of the people of Himachal. We are a special category state with geographical constraints that limit our revenue generation. The Centre must restore the RDG.” — Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
The session is scheduled to continue tomorrow with the Question Hour, where the opposition BJP is expected to corner the government on law and order and unfulfilled poll promises.