Political circles in Himachal Pradesh are abuzz following a startling public statement by BJP MLA and former minister Anil Sharma. Representing the Mandi Sadar assembly constituency, Sharma launched a scathing attack on all four Lok Sabha Members of Parliament (MPs) belonging to his own party. Speaking at a public event in the Kot-Tungal area of Mandi district, the veteran politician expressed deep disappointment with the party's parliamentarians, while simultaneously praising Congress Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for his prompt assistance in local developmental works.
Dispute Over Funding for Parking Project
The controversy stems from a fund-raising effort for a much-needed parking facility in the Kotli region of Mandi district. Addressing the closing ceremony of a sports tournament on Wednesday, Anil Sharma detailed his struggles in securing financial assistance for the project. The estimated cost for constructing the parking facility was around Rs 2 crore. To bridge this gap, Sharma had approached all four BJP Lok Sabha MPs from the state, requesting a contribution of Rs 25 lakh each from their MPLAD (Member of Parliament Local Area Development) funds. However, his requests were ignored, prompting him to remark sharply that there was no substance or generosity in these MPs.
Praising Chief Minister Sukhu's Prompt Action
Left with no option after being turned down by his own party's MPs, Anil Sharma met Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. He placed the proposal for the Kotli parking project before the head of the state government. According to the BJP MLA, Chief Minister Sukhu showed an encouraging attitude and immediately sanctioned the necessary funds to initiate the construction. The work on the parking facility has now commenced. Sharma openly lauded the Chief Minister's constructive approach, highlighting that development was prioritized over political affiliations. Additionally, the MLA revealed that he succeeded in securing Rs 80 lakh for a local college building. He asserted that he would continue to make relentless efforts to complete all the developmental projects he had initiated, vowing to keep pushing for funds in the coming years if needed.
Lack of Coordination Within State BJP
Anil Sharma's public outburst has raised serious questions regarding the coordination between BJP legislators and parliamentarians in Himachal Pradesh. Currently, all four Lok Sabha seats in the state are held by the BJP. Actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut represents the Mandi constituency, while Hamirpur is held by former Union Minister Anurag Thakur. Dr. Dr. Rajeev Bhardwaj and Suresh Kashyap are the MPs from Kangra and Shimla, respectively. For a sitting BJP MLA to publicly highlight a lack of support from these MPs while commending a Congress Chief Minister exposes internal rifts and a visible disconnect within the state unit of the saffron party.
The Political Legacy of Anil Sharma
Anil Sharma belongs to a highly influential political family in Himachal Pradesh. He is the son of the late Pandit Sukhram, a veteran Congress leader who served as the Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology. Sharma had crossed over from the Congress to join the BJP and was appointed as a cabinet minister in the previous Jai Ram Thakur-led BJP government. However, his cabinet stint ended abruptly after his son decided to contest elections on a Congress ticket. Despite being an opposition legislator under the current Congress regime, Sharma has managed to secure significant funds for his home constituency of Mandi Sadar. He reaffirmed his commitment to the development of his constituency, stating that his primary focus remains on seeing his initiated projects to completion.
