The Himachal Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, is observing the completion of three years in office today with a significant public event in Mandi. The administration has organized a massive gathering dubbed the ‘Jan Sankalp Rally’ at the historic Paddal Ground. The event is seen as a show of strength for the Congress party in the hill state, with supporters from across the region expected to converge at the venue.
Preparations for the rally are extensive. The stage and seating arrangements have been finalized at the Paddal Ground, and the city of Mandi has been decorated for the occasion. To facilitate the movement of supporters and beneficiaries, the administration has deployed approximately 1,100 HRTC buses from various parts of the state.
Focus on Welfare Distribution
The primary agenda of the event goes beyond political celebration; it focuses heavily on welfare distribution. During the programme, Chief Minister Sukhu is scheduled to distribute financial benefits worth ₹150 crore to nearly 4,000 workers registered under the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.
According to Nardev Singh Kanwar, Chairman of the Board, the current government has already disbursed benefits exceeding ₹63 crore to workers. The administration is currently running 14 different schemes for laborers. For eight of these schemes, funds will be transferred directly into the bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries today. Additionally, 19 single, widowed, and differently-abled women will receive financial assistance of ₹1 lakh each during the ceremony.
From ‘Celebration’ to ‘Jan Sankalp’
The nomenclature of the event has an interesting political backstory. Initially planned as a celebration of the government’s tenure, the event faced stiff opposition from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The opposition argued that celebrating in Mandi was insensitive, given that the district had recently grappled with severe natural disasters. Following this criticism, the Sukhu government rebranded the event as the ‘Jan Sankalp Rally’ to emphasize public commitment rather than festivity.
The programme is scheduled to run from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. While Chief Minister Sukhu and several state leaders will be present to outline the government’s achievements over the last three years, reports confirm that no senior Congress leaders from the party high command in Delhi will be attending the rally.
Political Context in Mandi
Hosting the rally in Mandi holds strategic importance. In the last assembly elections, the Congress suffered a significant setback in this district, losing nine out of ten seats. Chandrashekhar Thakur remains the sole Congress MLA from the district. Commenting on the government’s performance, Thakur used a metaphor to describe the long-term benefits of their policies.
“Sukhu government’s schemes are like amla (Indian gooseberry); their taste is realized later.” — Chandrashekhar Thakur, MLA
Thakur highlighted improvements in rural healthcare, noting that specialist doctors are now deployed in areas where previously no medical staff was available. He also emphasized that farmers are receiving fair prices for their crops. Defending the government’s handling of crises, he stated that the Sukhu administration is the only one in the country offering a compensation of ₹8,00,000 instead of ₹1,30,000 during disasters, calling it a prime example of sensitivity.
आज पड्डल मैदान, मंडी में हिमाचल सरकार के तीन वर्ष पूरे होने पर आयोजित ‘जन संकल्प सम्मेलन’ में आपके बीच उपस्थित होना मेरे लिए सौभाग्य की बात है।
इन तीन वर्षों में हिमाचल ने प्राकृतिक, राजनीतिक और आर्थिक चुनौतियों का सामना करते हुए व्यवस्था परिवर्तन की नई राह बनाई। यह सब आपके… pic.twitter.com/hJNhpncSF4
— Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (@SukhuSukhvinder) December 11, 2025
