Mandi, June 2: Leader of Opposition and former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur on Tuesday alleged that the Sukhu government has failed to deliver on its promises of increasing excise revenue and accused it of turning the Excise Department into a “laboratory of system change” at the cost of the state’s finances.
In a statement issued from Mandi, Thakur claimed that a Telangana-based company entrusted with operating liquor vends in Kullu, Lahaul and Pangi had failed to deposit its licence fee, forcing authorities to seal the outlets.
He alleged that the excise units in the region were auctioned after changes in rules and were awarded to the company with a bid only marginally above the base price. According to Thakur, the company could not deposit the licence fee of around ₹15 crore for May, despite the peak tourist season being underway.
The BJP leader said the development raises serious questions about the state’s excise policy and its projected revenue gains. He further accused the government of favouring outside companies and making administrative decisions that have adversely impacted state revenues.
Citing official figures, Thakur claimed that excise revenue growth under the current government has remained below expectations. He alleged that revenue increased by only 0.22 per cent in 2024-25 and 7.2 per cent in 2025-26, while the budget estimate for 2026-27 projects a rise of 9.74 per cent.
Drawing a comparison with the previous BJP government, Thakur said excise revenue had registered double-digit growth during several years despite challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and economic slowdown.
He demanded that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu explain the gap between the government’s promises and actual revenue performance.
Meanwhile, Thakur spent the day at his residence in Tandi meeting newly elected Panchayat representatives and congratulated them on their electoral victories while discussing future development priorities.
