A transfer of 41 doctors from Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College and Hospital, Nerchowk (Mandi), has sparked a major political controversy in Himachal Pradesh. The Opposition BJP has accused Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu of following an “anti-Mandi” and “anti-Balh” policy, saying the transfers were a deliberate move to weaken key institutions in the district.
As per the official transfer order, 28 of the 41 doctors have been posted to various hospitals within Mandi district, while 13 have been sent to other districts. Opposition leaders fear the mass transfer will seriously affect the medical college’s functioning and reduce the availability of health services for local people.
Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur criticised the Congress government and called the decision “a fresh example of discrimination” against Mandi. He said since the Congress came to power, Mandi has suffered neglect in development, education and health. Thakur added that the Chief Minister shows support in public meetings but reveals his bias once he returns to Shimla.
Sundernagar MLA Rakesh Jamwal and Balh MLA Inder Singh Gandhi also opposed the move, saying the transfer of 41 doctors shows the Chief Minister’s “anti-Mandi mindset.” They argued that the Nerchowk Medical College is central to Himachal’s healthcare system and that removing so many doctors at once would harm essential services. They called the decision unfair to Mandi’s people and a direct blow to the region’s health infrastructure.
The BJP leaders also accused the Sukhu government of acting out of “political vendetta,” noting that nine of Mandi’s 10 Assembly seats are held by BJP legislators. They also pointed to the earlier decision to shift over 100 colleges away from Sardar Patel University, Mandi, as another sign of bias.
Warning of state-wide protests, the BJP leaders said they would start an agitation if the government did not withdraw the transfer order quickly. They said the people of Mandi would not accept such injustice and that the issue would be raised both in the Assembly and on the streets.
As the opposition increases pressure, the government has not yet issued any official statement explaining why the transfers were made. This has kept the issue politically tense and has left the public worried about its effect on healthcare in the region.
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