Not Alto, Cong will return to power in 52-seater Volvo: CM hits back at BJP

The Himachal Pradesh Government marked the completion of three years in power with an impressive show of strength in Mandi today, where Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the Congress would return to power with more seats in 2027 despite enduring economic, political and natural calamities in the past three years. “We will return to power in a 52-seater Volvo,” Sukhu said in response to Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur’s jibe that Sukhu’s Alto car would be enough to accommodate the Congress MLAs in 2027.AICC in-charge for Himachal Rajni Patil, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, ministers and senior party leaders were present at the event.Addressing a large gathering at the Jan Sankalp Sammelan, Sukhu accused the Centre of not providing adequate help to the state to cope with the crippling natural calamities that struck the state twice in the past three years. “As per the assessment of the Centre’s team, the state suffered a loss of Rs 9,300 crore. The Centre, however, announced just Rs 2,000 crore under the Post Disaster Need Assessment after two years. Of this too, we’ve received just Rs 451 crore so far. The Centre has been trying to tie our hands,” said Sukhu.

He said his government arranged a Rs 4,500-crore relief package from its own resources and significantly enhanced compensation norms.

Sukhu accused the previous BJP government of pushing the state into a severe financial crisis, claiming it left behind a debt burden of Rs 75,000 crore.

He said the present government had been forced to borrow further just to service this debt. The Chief Minister accused the BJP of buying Congress MLAs to precipitate the crisis for his government. “People have given a befitting reply to the BJP by shoring up our numbers back to 40,” the Chief Minister said.

Accusing the BJP of compromising the economic interests of the state, Sukhu cited several revenue-boosting decisions of his government, including a recent legal victory in the Wildflower Hall case and the enhancement of royalty from the Karcham-Wangtoo hydro project from 12 per cent to 18 per cent. “We’ve generated Rs 450 crore from excise revenue in just one year, which is equal to what the BJP earned in four years,” he said.

Highlighting the welfare initiatives taken by his government, Sukhu said the Mukhyamantri Sukh Ashray Yojana, under which orphaned children were legally adopted as “children of the state”, reflected the compassionate face of his government. “Restoring the old pension scheme was also a decision guided by concern for employees’ social security,” he said. Calling for public support, Sukhu said the Congress government aimed to make Himachal a self-reliant state within two years. “Together, we will transform the destiny and image of Himachal Pradesh,” he said.