Major Vijay Singh Mankotia’s life is a fascinating tale of grit, service, and relentless political pursuit, yet marked by missed opportunities and unfulfilled potential. Coming from a **Rajwada family** with a decorated background in the Army, Mankotia carried with him a blend of discipline, valor, and aristocratic aura that few in Himachal Pradesh’s politics could match. His strong base in **Tiara, Shahpur, Kangra, and Dharamshala belt** gave him a natural advantage—an area where nearly every second household has someone serving in the Army or paramilitary forces. It is no surprise then that his role as **President of the Sainik Kalyan Organisation**, representing ex-servicemen, brought him immense respect and a committed following among retired soldiers and their families.
Despite such a formidable social base, Mankotia could never transform this goodwill into a decisive political niche. Analysts often argue that while he had the credentials, stature, and charisma, he could not establish the **emotional connect** that binds a leader deeply with the masses. Unlike other leaders who nurtured cadres and consolidated support over time, Mankotia’s frequent shifts in political allegiance—from Congress to other platforms and now **aligning with the BJP**—weakened the consistency of his public image. His admirers praise his **grace, cultured demeanor, and sharp intellect**, but detractors note that his tendency to disrupt equations at the last moment cost him the long-term trust of the electorate.
At the age of **82**, his renewed activity with the BJP shows his undiminished enthusiasm for public life. However, the BJP’s internal policy of not encouraging leaders above the age of **75 years** in contesting elections creates a real obstacle for him. While Mankotia still commands respect among veterans, ex-servicemen, and sections of the Kangra electorate, the question remains whether he can convert that into meaningful political mileage in the present context.
His journey is also symbolic of how **power and politics often demand more than pedigree and passion**. A soldier by training, he fought battles in the political field with equal vigor but remained constrained by the harsh realities of party politics, shifting loyalties, and internal rivalries. While leaders like the late **Virbhadra Singh** ensured no parallel power center could emerge in Himachal, Mankotia, despite his stature, was never able to build a lasting independent line of leadership.
As he steps once again into the arena, the political watchers of Himachal are keenly observing whether he will **remain with the BJP, switch loyalties again, or even test the waters as an independent**. Whatever the outcome, one cannot deny that Major Vijay Singh Mankotia remains a unique chapter in Himachal politics—a leader with all the ingredients of greatness but who never quite cooked the final recipe of political success.
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