The Himachal Pradesh Congress on Monday kicked off its campaign for the 2027 Assembly elections, vowing to aggressively highlight issues such as the alleged Ram Mandir donation scam, the NEET paper leak, and the reduction in import duty on apples to target the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Congress announces statewide campaign strategy
Addressing the media after a two-day organisational meeting in Shimla, All India Congress Committee in-charge for Himachal Pradesh Rajni Patil said the party would take these issues to the public to expose and discredit the BJP before the elections. Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee president Vinay Kumar added that the Centre’s discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant and the BJP’s alleged attempts under “Operation Lotus” to topple the Congress government would also be highlighted during the campaign.
Focus on Ram Mandir donation scam
“We will be aggressive on the Ram Mandir issue. Himachal is Dev Bhoomi and people contributed generously for the temple. The BJP centred its politics around the Ram Temple for three decades, but now it is silent. It must explain why it is silent and why the real culprits are being shielded,” Patil said. The Congress plans to raise the alleged scam where donations collected for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya were reportedly misused.
Protests over NEET paper leak
Vinay Kumar said the Congress would organise protests in educational institutions over the NEET paper leak, a major controversy that has sparked nationwide outrage. Patil noted that the final strategy for the proposed agitations would be finalised at the Parliamentary Affairs Committee meeting scheduled to be held in Dharamsala on July 16 and 17.
Rahul Gandhi to address rallies in September-October
Patil also announced that the party plans to invite senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to address public rallies in the state during September and October. She expressed hope that his visit would strengthen the party’s campaign against the BJP.
Internal party matters
Responding to Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi’s objections over the appointment of Nigam Bhandari as president of the District Congress Committee in Kinnaur, Patil said she would try to convince the minister. She explained that Bhandari’s name had emerged through the Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan process and added that she would have discussed the matter with Negi had he attended the meeting. While stressing that discipline was essential, Patil said the Congress allows members to express their views, unlike the BJP, where “only one voice is heard”.
Improving party-government coordination
Patil also proposed assigning each Cabinet minister responsibility for one district to address public grievances and ensure the effective implementation of government policies and programmes. She emphasised that greater coordination between the party organisation and the government would be ensured.
