The winter session of the Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly is expected to be tense and full of sharp exchanges, as the Opposition gears up to raise several critical issues against the Congress government. The tenth session of the 14th assembly will begin on Wednesday at Tapovan in Dharamshala and will continue until December 5. The session is likely to witness heated debates, especially on matters related to law and order, delayed panchayat elections, and the state’s handling of recent natural disasters.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu arrived in Dharamshala on Tuesday, where he was welcomed ahead of the session. The atmosphere is already politically charged, with the Opposition stepping up its criticism. BJP leaders have been accusing the Congress government of failing to conduct timely panchayat elections and of not managing the law and order situation properly.
One of the strongest issues the Opposition plans to highlight is the delay in conducting panchayat polls. BJP leader and Sullah MLA Vipin Singh Parmar said the government’s decision to postpone elections is unfair and violates democratic rights. According to him, panchayat elections are essential to ensure that people at the village level participate in governance. He argued that delaying these polls prevents citizens from having a say in decision-making at the grassroots level.
Another major topic expected to dominate the discussions is the state’s response to disasters. Many parts of Himachal Pradesh experienced heavy losses during the recent monsoon season, including damage to private homes, government buildings, and roads. Parmar claimed that the government has done little to help families who suffered during these calamities. He also said that the situation of law and order in the state has worsened, and he expects this topic to be discussed at length during the session.
The state government had written to the election commission in October, requesting that panchayat and local body elections be postponed due to widespread damage across districts. The government said that the roads and infrastructure were severely affected during the monsoon and that conditions were not suitable for holding elections. However, the Opposition argues that this explanation is not convincing and believes the government is simply avoiding polls.
Adding to the political tension, the Himachal Pradesh BJP has announced a massive protest on December 4 at Dharamshala’s Zorawar Stadium. The protest is planned to mark three years of the Congress government’s rule, and the BJP is likely to use the occasion to highlight what it calls the failures of the current administration.
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Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania spoke on Tuesday about the schedule and preparations for the upcoming winter session. He confirmed that eight sittings will be held during the session. This year, the assembly has already conducted 15 sittings during the budget session and 12 in the monsoon session. With the addition of eight more in the winter session, the total number of sittings for the year will reach 35.
The speaker also said that before the session begins on Wednesday, an all-party meeting will be held at 10:15 am. This meeting will include leaders from both the ruling and Opposition parties, along with the parliamentary affairs minister, the Leader of the Opposition, the deputy chief whip of the government, and the chief whip of the BJP legislative party. The purpose of the meeting is to ensure that the proceedings run smoothly and without unnecessary delays.
Pathania shared details about the questions and notices received from assembly members ahead of the session. A total of 744 questions have been submitted. Out of these, 604 are starred questions, which require oral answers, while 140 are unstarred questions, meaning written answers will be provided. Members have also submitted several notices requesting discussions under various assembly rules. These include 11 notices under Rule 62, four under Rule 63, seven under Rule 101, sixteen under Rule 130, and one under Rule 324. These notices indicate that members plan to seek detailed discussions on a wide range of topics during the session.
On the Congress side, preparations are also underway. Ahead of the session, the Congress legislative party held its own meeting on Tuesday evening. Chief Minister Sukhu presided over the meeting, where party members discussed their strategy and key points they plan to highlight during the upcoming sittings.
As the winter session begins, both sides appear ready for intense debate. The Opposition’s determination to challenge the government on multiple issues signals that this session could see substantial political confrontation. At the same time, the government is preparing to defend its decisions and maintain control over the assembly proceedings.
With major topics such as disaster response, panchayat elections, and law and order on the agenda, the winter session is expected to become an important platform for discussing the state’s challenges and assessing the government’s performance. The next few days in the assembly are likely to be crucial in shaping political discussions in Himachal Pradesh as the year comes to an end.
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