Major Vijay Singh Mankotia: A Soldier Who Remained Straightforward in Politics
SHAHPUR: Governor Kavinder Gupta has mourned the death of former minister and five-time Shahpur MLA Major Vijay Singh Mankotia, describing his passing as a loss to the state.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the news of the demise of former Minister in the Himachal Pradesh Government, Major Vijay Singh Mankotia ji, is extremely heartbreaking.
An alumnus and former Head Boy of The Lawrence School, Sanawar, he was a Sword of Honour recipient and Gold Medalist at the Indian Military Academy. He served in the Army before entering politics at the behest of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Major Mankotia served twice as a Cabinet Minister and remained closely associated with the welfare of ex-servicemen, including through his long leadership of the Ex-Servicemen League.
Known for his soft-spoken manner, wit and natural charm, he combined strong convictions with courtesy and composure. His warmth and engaging personality made him widely respected across political and social circles.
A decorated soldier, seasoned public representative and passionate advocate for ex-servicemen, Major Mankotia will be remembered for his service, character and distinctive personality.
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Condoling his death CM said Shri Mankotia played an important role for a long time in political and public life. His contributions will always be remembered, he added..
A decorated Army officer, Mankotia served in the 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars before retiring in 1976. Commissioned into the 1/1 Gorkha Rifles, he was awarded the Sword of Honour and Gold Medal at the Indian Military Academy.
He entered electoral politics in 1982 as an Independent and went on to win Shahpur five times. He served as a minister handling Tourism, Civil Aviation and Law and also headed the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation as Vice-Chairman.
Known for his straightforward and independent style, Mankotia rarely hesitated to speak his mind. His decades-long association with ex-servicemen remained an important part of his public life.
His political journey saw victories, defeats, party changes and controversies, but his identity remained distinctive—a soldier who carried his discipline, candour and uprightness from the battlefield into public life.
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