Delhi Protest at Himachal Bhawan Sparks Battle Over State Debt Claims

A crowd of Congress supporters assembled outside the Himachal Bhawan on Monday, pressing the Chief Election Commissioner to step down. The protest coincided with a larger narrative pushed by BJP officials that the Congress-led government in Himachal Pradesh has driven the state into a heavy loan burden.

Anurag Thakur, a member of Parliament from the ruling party, alleged that the Congress is now misusing the Delhi‑based Himachal Bhawan for political rallies, even as it allegedly imposes a record debt on the hill state. According to Thakur, the presence of 200‑250 activists inside the building has forced the surrounding area into a choke point, inconveniencing residents, officials and commuters alike.

Thakur cited earlier incidents where Congress members allegedly disrupted an AI summit and later received shelter from the Himachal government, portraying a pattern of the party seeking protection from state authorities. He warned that such tactics demonstrate a “political hijack” of public infrastructure.

The demonstrators, some wearing traditional Himachali attire, raised chants against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of electoral improprieties and a lack of transparency. The rally saw participation from the state’s chief minister, several ministers, and a sizable number of party workers, underscoring the political stakes attached to the Himachal Bhawan venue.