A controversy has erupted in Himachal Pradesh’s Hamirpur after a photograph of Union Health Minister and BJP leader J. P. Nadda was placed on a poster originally meant for former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal. The image began circulating on social media and drew strong reactions from local BJP workers.
The altered picture appeared online just before Nadda’s visit to Hamirpur for a political event scheduled on Sunday, where both Nadda and Dhumal were expected to share the stage. Many party workers expressed displeasure after seeing the image.
One social media user shared the image on Friday, and BJP members quickly reacted, with some calling it disrespectful to senior leaders. Former BJP district vice-president Usha Birla criticised the photo in a Facebook post, saying that insulting senior leaders like former CM Dhumal and Union Minister Anurag Thakur would not be tolerated. Party IT team official Rajit Bhartiya also condemned the altered poster, saying it was inappropriate to disrespect senior figures.
Later, Hamirpur BJP district president Rakesh Thakur clarified that the image appeared to be artificially created — likely with AI — and that no tampering had been done with the original poster at the party office. He urged party workers to stay calm and avoid actions that could harm the party’s reputation.
