Pangi residents reiterate demand for Assembly seat

The residents of Pangi valley in Chamba have renewed their long-standing demand for a separate Assembly constituency. Under the banner of the Pangwal Ekta Manch, a local organisation, the campaign officially began on Sunday in Hudan Bhatori, with the aim of securing representation in the 2026 delimitation process.

Led by the Pangwal Ekta Manch president, Trilok Thakur, members went door-to-door raising awareness and gathering support for the movement. According to Thakur, the campaign will extend across 19 panchayats in Pangi Valley, ensuring that the locals voice’ is heard by the government. The residents argued that in the absence of a dedicated legislator, they were forced to travel over 400 km to Bharmour for solutions to their problems, as the current Bharmour representative rarely visits Pangi’s rural areas.

The lack of direct political representation has exacerbated these challenges for a population of about 25,000, as local issues often go unaddressed in the state legislature.

Thakur emphasised the uniqueness of Pangi’s geographical and cultural challenges, which distinguishes it from other parts of Himachal Pradesh. The valley’s isolation during winter months, poor infrastructure, and road conditions further exacerbates the situation. Pangi remains one of the most backward regions in Himachal Pradesh. He highlighted that having a local legislator would ensure more immediate and dedicated attention to the region’s needs. The campaign received overwhelming support from residents, who feel that a separate Assembly constituency would allow their concerns to be addressed more effectively.

The Pangi Assembly constituency was established by the first Delimitation Commission of India in 1953, with Daulat Ram from the Congress and a Pangwal community member, as its first elected representative. However, Pangi was merged with the Bharmour constituency during the 1966 delimitation process.