Tag: Himachal Assembly Elections

  • New CM Sukhvinder, his deputy Mukesh brace for a bumpy road in Himachal Pradesh

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The decisive move on new leadership in Himachal Pradesh notwithstanding, the Congress has its task cut out in the hill state as it faces the twin challenge of keeping factional fighting at bay and delivering on ambitious poll promises.

    Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and his deputy will be bracing for a bumpy ride ahead, with the first hurdle being the cabinet formation that reflects the interests of competing pressure groups in the party, principally the one led by incumbent state chief Pratibha Singh.

    Allocation of portfolios would be the immediate vexatious issue for the party, with supporters of Virbhadra Singh already feeling sidelined after the elevation of the late chief minister’s professed rival Sukhu.

    Virbhadra Singh’s wife Pratibha Singh may have made all the right noises to start with, but it remains to be seen what bargain she strikes in order to satisfy her camp.

    The buzz is that she has sought a meaty portfolio for her son Vikramaditya Singh, who returned to the assembly from Shimla Rural. Sources in the party said the top leadership has agreed to make Vikramaditya Singh a senior minister in the state cabinet.

    Organisational unity challenge apart, the Congress government in the state would need to hit the ground running and deliver on the manifesto promises, which appeared to have struck a chord with the voters.ALSO READ | Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu: A fighter who rose through the ranks

    The uphill task would be to generate finances for the range of promises which, all put together, would entail an expenditure of around Rs 10,000 crore annually on the part of the state government.

    How Sukhu and his team achieve this will be closely watched considering Himachal’s massive debt burden of around Rs 65,000 crore till March 31, 2002.

    With the state’s finances already under stress, the CAG has also warned that the state government utilised 74.11 per cent of borrowed funds for the repayment of previous borrowings (principal) and 25.89 per cent for capital expenditure.

    As per the CAG’s latest report tabled in the state assembly for 2020-21, around 39 per cent of the debt (amounting to around Rs 25,000 crore) is payable in the next two to five years.

    Implementing the lofty promises made by Congress is going to be a challenging task, including providing one lakh jobs in the first year and a total of five lakh jobs in the five-year term. The immediate task would, however, be to fill the state’s 62,000 vacancies in various government departments, which will also push up the employee cost.

    The promise of giving Rs 1500 to every adult woman in the state would entail Rs 5,000 crore expense annually. Coupled with that the promise of free power of up to 300 units to every household will entail expenses of another Rs 2,500 crore annually while catering to around 15 lakh households, the sources said.

    As per the budget estimates for 2022-23, the total receipts and cash expenditure are estimated at Rs 50,300.41 crore and Rs 51,364.76 crore respectively. The Revenue Deficit in 2022-23 for Himachal is likely to be Rs 3,903.49 crore and the Fiscal Deficit is expected to be Rs 9,602.36 crore.

    The restoration of the old pension scheme, which has been the biggest promise that helped the party romp home to power, is also a challenging task considering that other Congress-ruled states of Rajasthan and Chattisgarh have not been able to implement them.ALSO READ | How a battered and bruised Congress found love in Shimla

    Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured that there will be no hindrance to the development of Himachal Pradesh even though the BJP lost power there, getting funds liberally from the BJP-ruled Centre may also be difficult for the Congress.

    On Saturday, Sukhu said all stakeholders will be taken on board while taking important decisions. “We want to change the system. Give me some time. We need to work hard to bring in a new system and new thinking,” he said.

    The Congress made several ambitious promises ranging from a free once-in-four-year pilgrimage for all elderly to a dedicated budget for the promotion of religious tourism in every assembly constituency, as the manifesto included a stand-alone segment titled – “Devsthan and Tirth Yatras” (Temples and Pilgrimages).

    The loftiest promise in this section is a pledge of free pilgrimage to any shrine of choice for all elderly in the state. Congress promised to foot the bill for such a trip every four years. It included a provision for attendants to accompany the elderly on such trips.

    A “Dev Bhumi Vikas Nidhi”, a fund that entails dedicating budgeting for each assembly constituency to promote religious tourism, has also been promised.

    The Congress had made ten promises to the people of Himachal Pradesh which include the restoration of the old pension scheme in its first meeting of the state cabinet, besides giving Rs 1500 to all adult women in the state.

    It also sought to woo the poor by promising 300 units of free power to all households and five lakh jobs to the youth. The party also pledged to form a Rs 680-crore StartUp fund that would include Rs 10 crore for each of the 68 assembly constituencies to provide self-employment opportunities to youths.

    The 52-page ‘Pratigya Patra – Himachal, Himachaliyat aur Hum’ also promised a special budget to MLAs to promote religious tourism, one job per family to those affected by power projects and urban MGNREGA jobs to the unemployed.

    NEW DELHI: The decisive move on new leadership in Himachal Pradesh notwithstanding, the Congress has its task cut out in the hill state as it faces the twin challenge of keeping factional fighting at bay and delivering on ambitious poll promises.

    Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and his deputy will be bracing for a bumpy ride ahead, with the first hurdle being the cabinet formation that reflects the interests of competing pressure groups in the party, principally the one led by incumbent state chief Pratibha Singh.

    Allocation of portfolios would be the immediate vexatious issue for the party, with supporters of Virbhadra Singh already feeling sidelined after the elevation of the late chief minister’s professed rival Sukhu.

    Virbhadra Singh’s wife Pratibha Singh may have made all the right noises to start with, but it remains to be seen what bargain she strikes in order to satisfy her camp.

    The buzz is that she has sought a meaty portfolio for her son Vikramaditya Singh, who returned to the assembly from Shimla Rural. Sources in the party said the top leadership has agreed to make Vikramaditya Singh a senior minister in the state cabinet.

    Organisational unity challenge apart, the Congress government in the state would need to hit the ground running and deliver on the manifesto promises, which appeared to have struck a chord with the voters.ALSO READ | Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu: A fighter who rose through the ranks

    The uphill task would be to generate finances for the range of promises which, all put together, would entail an expenditure of around Rs 10,000 crore annually on the part of the state government.

    How Sukhu and his team achieve this will be closely watched considering Himachal’s massive debt burden of around Rs 65,000 crore till March 31, 2002.

    With the state’s finances already under stress, the CAG has also warned that the state government utilised 74.11 per cent of borrowed funds for the repayment of previous borrowings (principal) and 25.89 per cent for capital expenditure.

    As per the CAG’s latest report tabled in the state assembly for 2020-21, around 39 per cent of the debt (amounting to around Rs 25,000 crore) is payable in the next two to five years.

    Implementing the lofty promises made by Congress is going to be a challenging task, including providing one lakh jobs in the first year and a total of five lakh jobs in the five-year term. The immediate task would, however, be to fill the state’s 62,000 vacancies in various government departments, which will also push up the employee cost.

    The promise of giving Rs 1500 to every adult woman in the state would entail Rs 5,000 crore expense annually. Coupled with that the promise of free power of up to 300 units to every household will entail expenses of another Rs 2,500 crore annually while catering to around 15 lakh households, the sources said.

    As per the budget estimates for 2022-23, the total receipts and cash expenditure are estimated at Rs 50,300.41 crore and Rs 51,364.76 crore respectively. The Revenue Deficit in 2022-23 for Himachal is likely to be Rs 3,903.49 crore and the Fiscal Deficit is expected to be Rs 9,602.36 crore.

    The restoration of the old pension scheme, which has been the biggest promise that helped the party romp home to power, is also a challenging task considering that other Congress-ruled states of Rajasthan and Chattisgarh have not been able to implement them.ALSO READ | How a battered and bruised Congress found love in Shimla

    Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured that there will be no hindrance to the development of Himachal Pradesh even though the BJP lost power there, getting funds liberally from the BJP-ruled Centre may also be difficult for the Congress.

    On Saturday, Sukhu said all stakeholders will be taken on board while taking important decisions. “We want to change the system. Give me some time. We need to work hard to bring in a new system and new thinking,” he said.

    The Congress made several ambitious promises ranging from a free once-in-four-year pilgrimage for all elderly to a dedicated budget for the promotion of religious tourism in every assembly constituency, as the manifesto included a stand-alone segment titled – “Devsthan and Tirth Yatras” (Temples and Pilgrimages).

    The loftiest promise in this section is a pledge of free pilgrimage to any shrine of choice for all elderly in the state. Congress promised to foot the bill for such a trip every four years. It included a provision for attendants to accompany the elderly on such trips.

    A “Dev Bhumi Vikas Nidhi”, a fund that entails dedicating budgeting for each assembly constituency to promote religious tourism, has also been promised.

    The Congress had made ten promises to the people of Himachal Pradesh which include the restoration of the old pension scheme in its first meeting of the state cabinet, besides giving Rs 1500 to all adult women in the state.

    It also sought to woo the poor by promising 300 units of free power to all households and five lakh jobs to the youth. The party also pledged to form a Rs 680-crore StartUp fund that would include Rs 10 crore for each of the 68 assembly constituencies to provide self-employment opportunities to youths.

    The 52-page ‘Pratigya Patra – Himachal, Himachaliyat aur Hum’ also promised a special budget to MLAs to promote religious tourism, one job per family to those affected by power projects and urban MGNREGA jobs to the unemployed.

  • Himachal: Sukhvinder Sukhu sworn in as CM, Mukesh Agnihotri takes oath as Dy CM

    By Online Desk

    SHIMLA: Congress leader Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu became the 15th Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, while fellow party leader Mukesh Agnihotri took oath as his deputy at a ceremony held in Shimla on Sunday.

    The duo were sworn in by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. 

    Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and party President Mallikharjun Kharge were all present at the ceremony. 

    Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Chhatisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda were also in attendance at the swearing-in ceremony.

    Sukhu, a grassroots politician who rose through the ranks, is a four-time MLA from Nadaun and the head of the election campaign committee in the recently concluded assembly elections which saw Congress return to power in the hill state. ALSO READ | Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu: A fighter who rose through the ranks

    Meanwhile, his deputy,  Mukesh Agnihotri is a five-time MLA from Haroli and the leader of the opposition in the outgoing Himachal Assembly.

    Sukhu said that he is happy that despite being from an ordinary family he is going to be the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.

    “I am happy that I am going to be CM despite being from an ordinary family. I am thankful to the Congress party and the Gandhi family for giving me this opportunity. My mother never stopped me from being in politics. I have reached here today because of her blessings,” said Sukhu.

    The Congress wrested power from the BJP in the hill state winning 40 of the 68 assembly seats. The polling was held on November 12 and the results were declared last Thursday.

    Several leaders including state Congress chief Pratibha Singh, the wife of former Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, and their son Vikramaditya Singh, who also won his election, were also in contention for the CM and Dy CM’s post.

    This was the first state election since the demise of Virbhadra Singh in July 2021.ALSO READ | How a battered and bruised Congress found love in Shimla

    (With inputs from ANI)

    SHIMLA: Congress leader Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu became the 15th Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, while fellow party leader Mukesh Agnihotri took oath as his deputy at a ceremony held in Shimla on Sunday.

    The duo were sworn in by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. 

    Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and party President Mallikharjun Kharge were all present at the ceremony. 

    Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Chhatisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda were also in attendance at the swearing-in ceremony.

    Sukhu, a grassroots politician who rose through the ranks, is a four-time MLA from Nadaun and the head of the election campaign committee in the recently concluded assembly elections which saw Congress return to power in the hill state. ALSO READ | Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu: A fighter who rose through the ranks

    Meanwhile, his deputy,  Mukesh Agnihotri is a five-time MLA from Haroli and the leader of the opposition in the outgoing Himachal Assembly.

    Sukhu said that he is happy that despite being from an ordinary family he is going to be the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.

    “I am happy that I am going to be CM despite being from an ordinary family. I am thankful to the Congress party and the Gandhi family for giving me this opportunity. My mother never stopped me from being in politics. I have reached here today because of her blessings,” said Sukhu.

    The Congress wrested power from the BJP in the hill state winning 40 of the 68 assembly seats. The polling was held on November 12 and the results were declared last Thursday.

    Several leaders including state Congress chief Pratibha Singh, the wife of former Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, and their son Vikramaditya Singh, who also won his election, were also in contention for the CM and Dy CM’s post.

    This was the first state election since the demise of Virbhadra Singh in July 2021.ALSO READ | How a battered and bruised Congress found love in Shimla

    (With inputs from ANI)

  • Sukhwinder Sukhu to be sworn in as Himachal CM on Sunday

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH: Finally, it is official. After all the hectic lobbying, four time MLA Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, 58 has been named as the new Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. Mukesh Agnihotri will be the Deputy CM.

    The names of Chief Minister and his deputy was announced soon after the end of the meeting of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) party in Shimla.

    According to a report, son of a road transport corporation driver, SS Sukhu had a modest beginning and used to run a milk counter at Chhota Shimla in his early days.

    The Nadaun MLA, who is considered close to Rahul Gandhi and was the Congress campaign committee head, was unanimously elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party on Saturday.

    Earlier in the day, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge cleared Suku’s name and after the CLP meeting, party observer and Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Bhagel announced the names of CM and his deputy. They will be sworn in on December 11.

    Meanwhile the supporters of State party president Pratibha Singh have been protesting through out the day outside the Cecil Hotel in Shimla where the party observers Baghel and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda were staying as she has vehemently opposed to Sukhu being made the CM and had conveyed her displeasure but finally she relented.

    From the morning itself Congress MLAs made a beeline to the hotel and met the observers. Many state party leaders including  Pratibha Singh and leader of the opposition in the outgoing assembly Mukesh Agnihotri besides Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu met the observers individually.

    Sources said that  the party observers and high command  were not in favour of Pratibha to be CM as they were averse to facing a by-poll from Mandi Lok Sabha seat in case Pratibha is made CM and later an assembly by election to get her elected as an MLA and then she reportedly  bargained for the post of deputy chief minister for her son Vikramaditya Singh who had won from the Shimla (Rural) constituency for the second time.

    Sukhu is MLA from Nadaun in Hamirpur district and he had the support of a majority of  the legislators.

    This is for the second time that Hamirpur district has got a Chief Ministe as former BJP Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had lost the elections in 2017 came from the Sujanpur seat.

    According to a report, son of a road transport corporation driver, SS Sukhu, 58, had a modest beginning and used to run a milk counter at Chhota Shimla in his early days.

    A product of student politics, Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu was a known detractor of party veteran Virbhadra Singh who had dominated Himachal Pradesh politics for over five decades until his demise last year. With the party bagging its first victory in the hill state without the charismatic presence of Virbhadra Singh, Sukhu’s elevation makes it clear that the party is ready to move on.

    More so, the party did not give in to the strong claim to the post mounted by Pratibha Singh, the party’s state unit chief and wife of Virbhadra Singh.

    He won the assembly election for the first time in 2003 from Nadaun, retained the seat in 2007 but was defeated in 2012 and won again in 2017 and 2022.ALSO READ | How a battered and bruised Congress found love in Shimla

    (With inputs from PTI)

    CHANDIGARH: Finally, it is official. After all the hectic lobbying, four time MLA Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, 58 has been named as the new Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. Mukesh Agnihotri will be the Deputy CM.

    The names of Chief Minister and his deputy was announced soon after the end of the meeting of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) party in Shimla.

    According to a report, son of a road transport corporation driver, SS Sukhu had a modest beginning and used to run a milk counter at Chhota Shimla in his early days.

    The Nadaun MLA, who is considered close to Rahul Gandhi and was the Congress campaign committee head, was unanimously elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party on Saturday.

    Earlier in the day, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge cleared Suku’s name and after the CLP meeting, party observer and Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Bhagel announced the names of CM and his deputy. They will be sworn in on December 11.

    Meanwhile the supporters of State party president Pratibha Singh have been protesting through out the day outside the Cecil Hotel in Shimla where the party observers Baghel and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda were staying as she has vehemently opposed to Sukhu being made the CM and had conveyed her displeasure but finally she relented.

    From the morning itself Congress MLAs made a beeline to the hotel and met the observers. Many state party leaders including  Pratibha Singh and leader of the opposition in the outgoing assembly Mukesh Agnihotri besides Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu met the observers individually.

    Sources said that  the party observers and high command  were not in favour of Pratibha to be CM as they were averse to facing a by-poll from Mandi Lok Sabha seat in case Pratibha is made CM and later an assembly by election to get her elected as an MLA and then she reportedly  bargained for the post of deputy chief minister for her son Vikramaditya Singh who had won from the Shimla (Rural) constituency for the second time.

    Sukhu is MLA from Nadaun in Hamirpur district and he had the support of a majority of  the legislators.

    This is for the second time that Hamirpur district has got a Chief Ministe as former BJP Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had lost the elections in 2017 came from the Sujanpur seat.

    According to a report, son of a road transport corporation driver, SS Sukhu, 58, had a modest beginning and used to run a milk counter at Chhota Shimla in his early days.

    A product of student politics, Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu was a known detractor of party veteran Virbhadra Singh who had dominated Himachal Pradesh politics for over five decades until his demise last year. With the party bagging its first victory in the hill state without the charismatic presence of Virbhadra Singh, Sukhu’s elevation makes it clear that the party is ready to move on.

    More so, the party did not give in to the strong claim to the post mounted by Pratibha Singh, the party’s state unit chief and wife of Virbhadra Singh.

    He won the assembly election for the first time in 2003 from Nadaun, retained the seat in 2007 but was defeated in 2012 and won again in 2017 and 2022.ALSO READ | How a battered and bruised Congress found love in Shimla

    (With inputs from PTI)

  • Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to be sworn in as Himachal CM on Sunday

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH: Finally, it is official. After all the hectic lobbying, four-time MLA Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu,58, has been named as the new Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.

    Mukesh Agnihotri will be the Deputy CM.

    The names of the Chief Minister and his deputy were announced soon after the end of the meeting of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) party in Shimla.

    Sukhvinder, the Nadaun MLA, who is considered close to Rahul Gandhi and was the Congress campaign committee head, was unanimously elected leader of the CLP on Saturday.

    Earlier in the day, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge cleared Suku’s name and after the CLP meeting, party observer and Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Bhagel announced the names of the CM and his deputy. They will be sworn in on December 11.

    Humble Beginning

    Sukhu is MLA from Nadaun in Hamirpur district and he had the support of a majority of the legislators.

    This is for the second time that Hamirpur district has got a Chief Minister as former BJP Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had lost the elections in 2017 came from the Sujanpur seat.

    Son of a road transport corporation driver, SS Sukhu, had a modest beginning and used to run a milk counter at Chhota Shimla in his early days.

    A product of student politics, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was a known detractor of party veteran Virbhadra Singh who had dominated Himachal Pradesh politics for over five decades until his demise last year. With the party bagging its first victory in the hill state without the charismatic presence of Virbhadra Singh, Sukhu’s elevation makes it clear that the party is ready to move on.

    More so, the party did not give in to the strong claim to the post mounted by Pratibha Singh, the party’s state unit chief and wife of Virbhadra Singh.

    He won the assembly election for the first time in 2003 from Nadaun, retained the seat in 2007 but was defeated in 2012 and won again in 2017 and 2022.

    Pratibha Singh Relents

    Meanwhile, the supporters of State party president Pratibha Singh have been protesting throughout the day outside the Cecil Hotel in Shimla where the party observers Baghel and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda were staying as she has vehemently opposed to Sukhu being made the CM and had conveyed her displeasure but finally she relented.

    From the morning itself, Congress MLAs made a beeline to the hotel and met the observers. Many state party leaders including  Pratibha Singh and leader of the opposition in the outgoing assembly Mukesh Agnihotri besides Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu met the observers individually.

    Sources said that the party observers and high command were not in favour of Pratibha being CM as they were averse to facing a by-poll from the Mandi Lok Sabha seat in case Pratibha is made CM and later an assembly by-election to get her elected as an MLA. She also reportedly bargained for the post of deputy chief minister for her son Vikramaditya Singh who had won from the Shimla (Rural) constituency for the second time.

    “Democratic Decision”

    Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma on Saturday congratulated Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on his selection as the next chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, saying he was grateful that the party leadership has taken a “democratic decision” and chosen one who has risen through the ranks.

    Reacting to the development, Sharma said on Twitter, “Congratulations to…Sukhu…Richly deserved recognition of his life long commitment to the Congress party and acknowledged contribution. ” Grateful that the party leadership has taken a democratic decision and chosen one who has risen through the ranks, he said.

    “A matter of pride that the son of an ordinary family will be our CM, thanks to our leadership, Smt Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge ji, @RahulGandhi and @PriyankaGandhi for leading a spirited campaign,” Sharma tweeted.

    “My good wishes and support to my new CM Sukhu,” he added.

    Congratulations to Sukhvinder Sukhu on becoming the next Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. Richly deserved recognition of his life long commitment to the Congress party and acknowledged contribution.
    — Anand Sharma (@AnandSharmaINC) December 10, 2022
    Sharma, a member of the G-23 group of Congress leaders who had written to the then party chief Sonia Gandhi in 2020 seeking organisational overhaul, had campaigned for the party in Himachal assembly polls and many candidates, for whom he canvassed, won the election.

    He, however, had lamented that the party did not fully utilise his services.

    The Congress wrested power from the BJP in the hill state winning 40 of the 68 assembly seats.

    The polling was held on November 12 and the results were declared Thursday.

    ALSO READ | How a battered and bruised Congress found love in Shimla

    (With inputs from PTI)

    CHANDIGARH: Finally, it is official. After all the hectic lobbying, four-time MLA Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu,58, has been named as the new Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.

    Mukesh Agnihotri will be the Deputy CM.

    The names of the Chief Minister and his deputy were announced soon after the end of the meeting of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) party in Shimla.

    Sukhvinder, the Nadaun MLA, who is considered close to Rahul Gandhi and was the Congress campaign committee head, was unanimously elected leader of the CLP on Saturday.

    Earlier in the day, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge cleared Suku’s name and after the CLP meeting, party observer and Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Bhagel announced the names of the CM and his deputy. They will be sworn in on December 11.

    Humble Beginning

    Sukhu is MLA from Nadaun in Hamirpur district and he had the support of a majority of the legislators.

    This is for the second time that Hamirpur district has got a Chief Minister as former BJP Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had lost the elections in 2017 came from the Sujanpur seat.

    Son of a road transport corporation driver, SS Sukhu, had a modest beginning and used to run a milk counter at Chhota Shimla in his early days.

    A product of student politics, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was a known detractor of party veteran Virbhadra Singh who had dominated Himachal Pradesh politics for over five decades until his demise last year. With the party bagging its first victory in the hill state without the charismatic presence of Virbhadra Singh, Sukhu’s elevation makes it clear that the party is ready to move on.

    More so, the party did not give in to the strong claim to the post mounted by Pratibha Singh, the party’s state unit chief and wife of Virbhadra Singh.

    He won the assembly election for the first time in 2003 from Nadaun, retained the seat in 2007 but was defeated in 2012 and won again in 2017 and 2022.

    Pratibha Singh Relents

    Meanwhile, the supporters of State party president Pratibha Singh have been protesting throughout the day outside the Cecil Hotel in Shimla where the party observers Baghel and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda were staying as she has vehemently opposed to Sukhu being made the CM and had conveyed her displeasure but finally she relented.

    From the morning itself, Congress MLAs made a beeline to the hotel and met the observers. Many state party leaders including  Pratibha Singh and leader of the opposition in the outgoing assembly Mukesh Agnihotri besides Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu met the observers individually.

    Sources said that the party observers and high command were not in favour of Pratibha being CM as they were averse to facing a by-poll from the Mandi Lok Sabha seat in case Pratibha is made CM and later an assembly by-election to get her elected as an MLA. She also reportedly bargained for the post of deputy chief minister for her son Vikramaditya Singh who had won from the Shimla (Rural) constituency for the second time.

    “Democratic Decision”

    Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma on Saturday congratulated Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on his selection as the next chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, saying he was grateful that the party leadership has taken a “democratic decision” and chosen one who has risen through the ranks.

    Reacting to the development, Sharma said on Twitter, “Congratulations to…Sukhu…Richly deserved recognition of his life long commitment to the Congress party and acknowledged contribution. ” Grateful that the party leadership has taken a democratic decision and chosen one who has risen through the ranks, he said.

    “A matter of pride that the son of an ordinary family will be our CM, thanks to our leadership, Smt Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge ji, @RahulGandhi and @PriyankaGandhi for leading a spirited campaign,” Sharma tweeted.

    “My good wishes and support to my new CM Sukhu,” he added.

    Congratulations to Sukhvinder Sukhu on becoming the next Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. Richly deserved recognition of his life long commitment to the Congress party and acknowledged contribution.
    — Anand Sharma (@AnandSharmaINC) December 10, 2022
    Sharma, a member of the G-23 group of Congress leaders who had written to the then party chief Sonia Gandhi in 2020 seeking organisational overhaul, had campaigned for the party in Himachal assembly polls and many candidates, for whom he canvassed, won the election.

    He, however, had lamented that the party did not fully utilise his services.

    The Congress wrested power from the BJP in the hill state winning 40 of the 68 assembly seats.

    The polling was held on November 12 and the results were declared Thursday.

    ALSO READ | How a battered and bruised Congress found love in Shimla

    (With inputs from PTI)

  • Himachal: Congress picks Sukhvinder Sukhu as CM, Mukesh Agnihotri as Dy CM

    Express News Service

    The Congress party’s high command on Saturday chose Himachal Pradesh MLA Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu as the state’s next Chief Minister and the leader of the legislative party.

    Sukhu, a four-time MLA from Nadaun, was the head of the election campaign committee in the recently concluded assembly elections and played a pivotal role in the Congress party’s return to power.

    Mukesh Agnihotri, a five-time MLA from Haroli and the leader of opposition in the outgoing Himachal Assembly, has been chosen as the state’s Deputy Chief Minister.

    The duo are set to be sworn in on Sunday.

    The Congress wrested power from the BJP in the hill state winning 40 of the 68 assembly seats.

    In their meeting Friday evening, the MLAs had unanimously passed a resolution authorising the party president to pick the legislature party leader, who will be the next chief minister.

    The polling was held on November 12 and the results were declared Thursday.

    Several leaders including state Congress chief Pratibha Singh, the wife of Virbhadra Singh, and their son Vikramaditya Singh, who won his election, were also in contention for the CM and Dy CM’s post. ALSO READ | Himachal Pradesh: Intense lobbying within Congress for CM’s post 

    (With inputs from PTI)

    The Congress party’s high command on Saturday chose Himachal Pradesh MLA Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu as the state’s next Chief Minister and the leader of the legislative party.

    Sukhu, a four-time MLA from Nadaun, was the head of the election campaign committee in the recently concluded assembly elections and played a pivotal role in the Congress party’s return to power.

    Mukesh Agnihotri, a five-time MLA from Haroli and the leader of opposition in the outgoing Himachal Assembly, has been chosen as the state’s Deputy Chief Minister.

    The duo are set to be sworn in on Sunday.

    The Congress wrested power from the BJP in the hill state winning 40 of the 68 assembly seats.

    In their meeting Friday evening, the MLAs had unanimously passed a resolution authorising the party president to pick the legislature party leader, who will be the next chief minister.

    The polling was held on November 12 and the results were declared Thursday.

    Several leaders including state Congress chief Pratibha Singh, the wife of Virbhadra Singh, and their son Vikramaditya Singh, who won his election, were also in contention for the CM and Dy CM’s post. ALSO READ | Himachal Pradesh: Intense lobbying within Congress for CM’s post
     

    (With inputs from PTI)

  • Himachal Pradesh: Intense lobbying within Congress for CM’s post

    By PTI

    SHIMLA: Intense lobbying continued for the chief minister’s post on Saturday, a day after the newly elected Congress MLAs unanimously passed a resolution authorising the party president to pick the legislature party leader.

    From the morning itself, Congress MLAs made a beeline to Cecil Hotel in Shimla where the party’s central observers — Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda — were staying.

    Even after winning the assembly polls with a clear mandate, the Congress is finding it difficult to fill the void created by the death of six-time chief minister Virbhadra Singh and reach a consensus on the legislature party leader who will become the CM.

    Several leaders including state Congress Chief Pratibha Singh, leader of the opposition in the outgoing Assembly Mukesh Agnihotri and head of the election campaign committee Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, who are believed to be the frontrunners for the top post, met the observers individually.

    Pratibha Singh, 66, has indicated that she is in the running for the chief minister’s post, a point also made by her son.

    Speaking to media persons on Saturday, Sukhu maintained that “I am not a chief minister aspirant. I am just a Congress worker and whatever decision the high command would take would be accepted.”

    On Friday, the observers, along with AICC in-charge for Himachal Pradesh Rajeev Shukla met Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and submitted a list of the party’s winning MLAs to the Governor and “sought time” to formally stake claim to form the government.

    The Congress wrested power from the BJP in the hill state winning 40 of the 68 assembly seats.

    The polling was held on November 12 and the results were declared Thursday.

    SHIMLA: Intense lobbying continued for the chief minister’s post on Saturday, a day after the newly elected Congress MLAs unanimously passed a resolution authorising the party president to pick the legislature party leader.

    From the morning itself, Congress MLAs made a beeline to Cecil Hotel in Shimla where the party’s central observers — Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda — were staying.

    Even after winning the assembly polls with a clear mandate, the Congress is finding it difficult to fill the void created by the death of six-time chief minister Virbhadra Singh and reach a consensus on the legislature party leader who will become the CM.

    Several leaders including state Congress Chief Pratibha Singh, leader of the opposition in the outgoing Assembly Mukesh Agnihotri and head of the election campaign committee Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, who are believed to be the frontrunners for the top post, met the observers individually.

    Pratibha Singh, 66, has indicated that she is in the running for the chief minister’s post, a point also made by her son.

    Speaking to media persons on Saturday, Sukhu maintained that “I am not a chief minister aspirant. I am just a Congress worker and whatever decision the high command would take would be accepted.”

    On Friday, the observers, along with AICC in-charge for Himachal Pradesh Rajeev Shukla met Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and submitted a list of the party’s winning MLAs to the Governor and “sought time” to formally stake claim to form the government.

    The Congress wrested power from the BJP in the hill state winning 40 of the 68 assembly seats.

    The polling was held on November 12 and the results were declared Thursday.