Major Vijai Singh Mankotia, a veteran politician and former Himachal Pradesh cabinet minister, died of a heart attack at his ancestral home in Tiara, Kangra, on Tuesday morning. He was 87.
Mankotia was a five-time MLA from Shahpur and one of the prominent political figures of Kangra. He stayed active in public life for several decades.
From Army Life to Himachal Politics
Mankotia was an alumnus of the Indian Army. He entered politics after retiring from military service and went on to hold important positions in the state government.
He served as a cabinet minister in two Virbhadra Singh-led Congress governments. He also headed the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation as its vice-chairman.
A Five-Time MLA from Shahpur
Mankotia's electoral journey began in 1982, when he won the Shahpur seat as an Independent. He went on to win the seat five times in total.
He was known as a firebrand Rajput leader from Kangra, a region that carries political significance in Himachal Pradesh.
Our Take: A Career That Spanned Two Worlds
Mankotia's life followed a path few politicians take. He served the country in uniform first, then moved into public office after retirement. That military background shaped how he was seen in Kangra politics.
To put it plainly, his record speaks for itself. Winning Shahpur five times, including his first win as an Independent, shows he built his own base rather than depending only on party machinery. Serving in two Congress governments under Virbhadra Singh placed him at the center of state politics for years.
For readers in Himachal, this is the loss of a leader who belonged to an older era of state politics — one where long public careers and strong local roots mattered. His death leaves a gap in Kangra's political landscape.