Parties face rebellion in 4 Kullu seats as people grouse about land acquisition, road projects

A famous tourist spot on the world map, Kullu is the largest valley in the mountainous region of Himachal Pradesh and has four assembly constituencies – Manali, Kullu, Banjar and Anni. BJP has the problem of rebels in all the four seats in this district and Congress has a rebel candidate in Anni, a reserved seat, and AAP and CPI(M) are also contesting here.

While widening of national highways is one project that people in all constituencies are concerned with, families displaced for the land acquisition during the 2012-17 Congress rule are still up in arms against both the then Congress government and the subsequent BJP rule. Hundreds of displaced families have been demanding better compensation and the campaign has also garnered support. A Sangrash Samiti was also formed by the BJP to address the grievances of the locals but the BJP leader who headed the panel, Mahendra Thakur, is now a rebel candidate from Manali. Residents rue that multiple road projects that were started much before are yet to see the light of the day.

Bhubho Jot Tunnel, to connect Kullu with Kangra, was announced two decades ago and Jalori Jot Tunnel, to connect Kullu towards Kangra, also proposed two decades ago, have both remained non-starters. Similarly, Bijli Mahadev ropeway in Bhunter, Kullu, to reach the famous Bijli Mahadev temple, was announced around a decade ago, is yet to be completed. In June 2020, the project was pegged at Rs 150 crore and in May 2022, when the project got all final approvals, its cost was mentioned as Rs 200 crore. Such incomplete projects are also a major bone of contention for the people here. Here’s a look at all the four constituencies of Kullu district.