BJP's Rajat Thakur Accuses Congress MLA of Misusing Office in Health Institution Scandal

BJP Leader Criticizes Dharampur MLA Over Allegations

Munish Sood

Mandi: Rajat Thakur, a member of the BJP's Himachal Pradesh executive committee and former candidate for the Dharampur Assembly seat, has launched a vigorous political attack against Congress MLA Chander Shekhar. Thakur accuses Shekhar of misusing his public office, engaging in financial misconduct, and failing to disclose pertinent information regarding a private health-training and nursing institution located in Sarkaghat.

During a press conference held in Mandi, Thakur employed a striking metaphor to illustrate his claims, stating, “I have uncovered the identity of Chander Shekhar’s 11-year-old son and revealed his father’s name to the public.” He clarified that this reference pertains to the Swakar College of Multi-Purpose Health Worker (MPHW) and Nursing at Laka Paplog in Sarkaghat, raising questions about the ownership, management, and financial interests tied to the institution.

Thakur presented documents related to the institution and the Pahari Rajya Lok Seva Samiti, asserting that these records link the organization to Chander Shekhar. He alleged that the MLA serves as the chairman of the society and questioned how an elected official could simultaneously hold such a role in a private educational establishment.

Thakur claimed that the proper procedures and conditions were not adhered to during the establishment of the institution, suggesting that Shekhar's position was improperly leveraged to sway the official process.

He specifically challenged the compliance with land requirements, approvals, and other essential conditions. Thakur urged the relevant authorities to review the original applications, approvals, land records, and management documents to determine if the institution meets the necessary standards.

He called for a thorough investigation by the Health Department and the state government, asserting that if violations are found, appropriate actions should be taken, including the potential cancellation of the institution's recognition.

‘First year mansion, second year company, third year illegal mining’

Thakur also shared what he termed a timeline of events during Chander Shekhar’s tenure as MLA.

“In the first year, a grand mansion; in the second year, a company; in the third year, illegal mining; and now a questionable institution — this has become the hallmark of the Dharampur MLA,” he alleged.

He further accused the MLA of being involved in illegal logging and mining activities, referring to him as a “wood thief” during the press conference.

Thakur claimed that Shekhar has diverted focus from the constituency's development to personal and family interests. He raised concerns about the state of roads, healthcare, education, and transportation in Dharampur, alleging that residents continue to face fundamental infrastructure challenges.

Financial Concerns Regarding Swakar Nursing College

A significant portion of the press conference was dedicated to discussing the financial operations of the Swakar institution.

Thakur presented figures that he claimed represented the institution’s revenue over various financial years:

• 2020–21: ₹54,83,981


• 2021–22: ₹64,73,956


• 2022–23: ₹73,77,076

He questioned whether all relevant financial interests and institutional affiliations had been adequately disclosed in the legally required documents.

Thakur demanded an examination of the institution’s financial records, including balance sheets, income tax returns, bank transactions, sources of funding, and relationships with the society and its officials.

He asserted that the financial data necessitated an independent review to clarify who controls the institution and who benefits from its operations.

Election Affidavit Under Scrutiny

Thakur also scrutinized Chander Shekhar’s election affidavit submitted for the 2022 Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections.

The publicly accessible archive of the 2022 election affidavit lists Chander Shekhar’s profession as “Agriculturist” and his total declared assets at around ₹45.99 lakh, with liabilities of approximately ₹4.22 lakh. The affidavit also includes information about his income tax returns for previous financial years.

Thakur questioned whether Shekhar’s alleged ties to the nursing and health-training institution and its financial dealings were sufficiently represented in the election disclosures.

He specifically referenced the affidavit submitted on October 25, 2022, alleging that critical information was omitted from the disclosure sections. He indicated that legal consultation was in progress and warned that a lawsuit could be filed if legal scrutiny reveals grounds for such action.

Concerns Over Holding Public Office and Private Institutional Role

Another significant issue raised by Thakur was the alleged simultaneous holding of a public office and the chairmanship of the society linked to the private institution.

He questioned whether a sitting MLA can concurrently serve as chairman of such an organization and stated that legal advice was being sought on this matter.

Thakur emphasized that the issue transcends political rivalry, involving questions of transparency, public accountability, and potential conflicts of interest. He urged the relevant authorities to assess the legal implications and determine if any statutory or regulatory violations have occurred.

‘Development Has Been Neglected’

Thakur accused Chander Shekhar of prioritizing personal gain over the development of Dharampur.

He noted that despite being the only Congress MLA from Mandi district, Shekhar has frequently complained about the government not meeting his demands, while, according to Thakur, the constituency continues to lack essential infrastructure improvements.

He argued that the disparity between the constituency’s developmental needs and the growth of private institutional interests raises valid concerns that can only be addressed through an impartial investigation.

Calls for a Comprehensive Investigation

Thakur stated that his aim is not limited to making political accusations and insisted that the documents he presented should be scrutinized by the appropriate authorities.

He called for a thorough inquiry covering:

• the structure and management of the Pahari Rajya Lok Seva Samiti;


• the alleged position of Chander Shekhar as its chairman;


• the recognition and approvals granted to the Swakar institution;


• compliance with land and other statutory requirements;


• the institution’s financial transactions and revenue;


• income tax returns, balance sheets, and banking records;


• the source and use of institutional funds;


• the relationship between the society, institution, and its officials; and


• the disclosures made in the MLA’s 2022 election affidavit.

Thakur asserted that if the investigation uncovers violations, the government should take action in accordance with the law.

He also challenged Chander Shekhar to publicly address the documents, institutional ties, and financial issues raised during the press conference.

The allegations made by Rajat Thakur have not been independently verified. Chander Shekhar’s response to the specific claims was unavailable at the time of publication.