Announcement any day around October 13 unveiling of Virbhadra statue on Ridge
Sunil Chadha
SHIMLA: With the much-awaited announcement of the new Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president expected any day now, the timing of party in-charge Rajni Patil’s visit to Shimla has triggered intense political speculation.
Her arrival in the state capital just days ahead of the October 13 event to unveil a statue of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has fuelled talk that Patil is here not just to oversee party programmes, but to assess the final mood before taking the decisive call.
Patil, who landed in Shimla on Friday (October 10, 2025) evening for a three-day visit, met Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu at his official residence Oak Over on Saturday morning. The meeting, also attended by outgoing HPCC president Pratibha Singh, co-in-charge Vidit Choudhary, PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh and Shimla Mayor Surender Chauhan, is being viewed as a last round of consultation before the high command zeroes in on a new state party chief.
While Congress leaders have remained tight-lipped, sources said the party is keen to announce the new HPCC president before or immediately after the October 13 ceremony, which is expected to draw significant media and public attention. The event, commemorating the late six-time CM Virbhadra Singh, is symbolic — and Congress insiders say the party wants to show organisational clarity and unity ahead of the emotionally charged occasion.
Shimla constituency likely to be represented
Congress sources indicate that the next HPCC president is likely to come from the Shimla parliamentary constituency, with the decision aimed at maintaining regional and caste balance within the party. CM Sukhu’s recent meeting with the central leadership in Delhi is believed to have influenced the shortlist of contenders.
The leading name emerging from within party circles is Education Minister Rohit Thakur, a seasoned leader from the Jubbal-Kotkhai constituency. Thakur, a member of the dominant Rajput community, reportedly enjoys the backing of a large section of the organisation as well as Sukhu’s camp. His perceived organisational discipline and administrative performance have made him a strong frontrunner.
However, others remain in contention, reflecting the party’s complex caste and regional equations. Vinay Kumar, the Deputy Speaker and a prominent Scheduled Caste (SC) leader, has been under consideration following his recent meeting with Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge. His appointment would underline the party’s outreach to the SC community, the second-largest demographic in the state.
Also being considered are Kuldeep Singh Rathore, former HPCC chief and national spokesperson, Sanjay Awasthi, Arki MLA and a close Sukhu aide, and Vinod Sultanpuri, a young SC leader from Kasauli who represents the party’s future-oriented face.
Testing the political temperature?
Rajni Patil’s tour is officially linked to the Congress’s ongoing “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod” campaign, an outreach initiative against the BJP, accusing it of electoral malpractices in other states. However, the timing of her meetings and political engagements suggests that her visit doubles as a subtle exercise in gauging ground sentiment and internal consensus before the state leadership transition.
Before heading to Theog on Saturday to interact with workers and monitor the signature campaign, Patil’s morning huddle at Oak Over served as a critical signal. Though the party remains undecided publicly, backchannel talks are intensifying.
Sources also point to a quiet but strategic meeting that took place at the state secretariat earlier this week between two senior ministers from the Shimla constituency, further reinforcing speculation that the new HPCC chief will emerge from this region.
Pressure to show unity before panchayat polls
With the Congress still reeling from nearly a year of organisational paralysis after dissolving its state, district and block-level committees last November, the urgency to fill the top post has grown. The lack of structure has weakened the party’s ability to counter the BJP’s aggressive campaigns, despite being in power.
The Congress’ panchayat-level outreach, including the “vote theft” campaign, is also under scrutiny. With the campaign’s first phase scheduled to conclude on October 15, having a new state president in place is essential for consolidating party messaging and rejuvenating cadres.
The Congress high command, meanwhile, has also been under pressure from competing state factions, particularly the camps led by Sukhu and Pratibha Singh, to reach a consensus pick. The leadership vacuum has contributed to organisational inertia and eroded the party’s grip on public narrative, something Rajni Patil is expected to help correct during this visit.
