Former Himachal minister and prominent leader from Kangra district, Major Vijay Singh Mankotia (87) passed away at about 11 am, at his ancestral village Tiara on Tuesday morning.
A family source said, “Major Mankotia was preparing to leave for a party meeting from his home after having his breakfast when he suddenly felt uneasy; he was taken to Tanda Medical College but collapsed on the way.”
Two times cabinet minister and five times MLA from Shashpur Assembly constituency of Kangra district , Major ( retired) Mankotia was an ex-army officer from Gurkha regiment and also remained Indian Military Attaché in Bhutan.
Popularly known as Major Mankotia, was considered close to Congress leader Sanjay Gandhi and was elected Independent MLA from Shahpur Assembly constituency in 1982, was elected again on the Congress ticket in 1985 . In 1987 he quit Congress and was elected on Janta Dal ticket in 1990.
He returned to Congress in 1993 and won 1993 and 2003 Assembly elections on Congress ticket. . He had joined BJP during the 2022 Assembly election.
Major Mankotia was considered a very bold leader for exposing corruption cases and released a CD during 2007 Hamirpur parliament by-election allegedly exposing his bête-noire, then CM Virbhadra Singh, causing damage to Congress candidate, however an inquiry cleared Virbhadra Singh from all charges.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, former CM Jai Ram Thakur, Union Minister JP Nadda and several other leaders have mourned the death of Major Mankotia.
His funeral will take place in his ancestral village after the arrival of his children from aboard.
