High command expected to avoid friction before next Lok Sabha, Assembly elections
S Gopal Puri
Shimla: All eyes in the Himachal Pradesh Congress are now on a major announcement expected anytime soon — the appointment of a new state party president.
Sources say that in this crucial decision, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s word will be final. The party high command, according to insiders, has already signalled that it wants the organisation in the hands of someone who can work in complete coordination with the Chief Minister.
Sukhu meets top leadership, seals his choice
In New Delhi recently, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu met senior Congress leaders and is learnt to have built consensus on his preferred name for the post. The central leadership, keen to avoid internal friction, appears convinced that a unified “government-organisation” model under Sukhu will help the party consolidate its position ahead of the 2026 civic and 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
The move is being viewed as a clear shift toward a “one man, one command” structure within the Himachal unit, strengthening Sukhu’s grip both in government and the party organisation.
Old guard fades, Sukhu team gains ground
The demand to retain incumbent state Congress chief Pratibha Singh has reportedly lost momentum. Party insiders say the high command has indicated it now prefers leaders aligned with Sukhu’s governance style and working approach over the old guard.
The move is also seen as a signal that the central leadership wants the Himachal unit to function with greater cohesion, reducing factional divides that had occasionally strained the Congress government in the state.
Three names in contention, decision imminent
Among the frontrunners for the top organisational post are former PCC chief Kuldeep Singh Rathore, Education Minister Rohit Thakur and Deputy Speaker Vinay Kumar. Party sources say the announcement could come anytime now, and the selection is expected to be largely a formality, with the final nod going to Sukhu’s preferred nominee.
Political observers note that the appointment will not just fill a key organisational role, but also underline Chief Minister Sukhu’s growing authority within the Himachal Congress. How effectively the new team functions in tandem with the government will be crucial as the party gears up for upcoming local body and national elections.
