Sukhvinder Sukhu has survived rebellion, disaster and debt. Can he now win?

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. (File Photo) 6 min readChandigarhAug 24, 2026 06:53 AM IST First published on: Aug 22, 2026 at 07:02 AM IST This week, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who has long championed vyavastha parivartan (systemic change), turned on the system itself, calling it too bulky and costly. His government plans a 15–30% cut in the sanctioned strength of IAS, IPS, and Indian Forest Service officers, a move he says will save the cash-strapped state about Rs 200 crore and ensure more meaningful deployment of personnel. It is a typically Sukhu response to the dilemma that has defined his tenure: how to run a welfare-heavy state with an increasingly empty purse.