Sunil Chadha
Shimla:
Four days after The Newz Radar (TNR) reported that Education Minister Rohit Thakur and Palampur MLA Ashish Butail too had joined the race to be Himachal Pradesh Congress president alongside Scheduled Caste MLAs Vinay Kumar and Vinod Sultanpuri, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has confirmed the report by claiming that post could go to a Dalit leader or a minister.
Speaking to the media on Friday (August 8, 2025), CM Sukhu said, “I have written to the high command, clearly mentioning that the new Himachal Congress president can be from the SC category or if a cabinet minister was interested, the opinion of the MLA concerned should also be considered.” He emphasised that the final decision rests with the party leadership and reiterated that he had not proposed any particular name.
This statement lends weight to earlier reporting by The News Report (TNR), which had identified Education Minister Rohit Thakur, SC MLAs Vinay Kumar and Vinod Sultanpuri, and Palampur MLA Ashish Butail as frontrunners for the top post. Sukhu’s remarks also hint at potential structural changes within the state government itself.
Cabinet reshuffle on the cards
Revealing that changes were imminent, Sukhu said, “A cabinet reshuffle is certainly on the table following discussions in Delhi. These decisions take time — usually two to three months of consultations — but a reshuffle will happen. The announcement of the new Congress president will also follow soon.”
This aligns with internal party discussions that occurred during a high-level meeting in Delhi on August 4, attended by top Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, state in-charge Rajni Patil and key figures from Himachal such as CM Sukhu, Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri and HPCC president Pratibha Singh.
The delay in appointing a new president has left the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) virtually inactive since its dissolution in November 2024. Although Pratibha Singh was retained as interim president, her official tenure ended in April 2025, and the state unit has lacked formal leadership for over nine months.
Leadership options and caste calculus
Party insiders say that discussions in Delhi revolved around finding a consensus candidate who is both politically seasoned and socially representative. The inclusion of SC leaders like Vinay Kumar and Vinod Sultanpuri in the shortlist signals the Congress’ intent to consolidate Dalit support in the state, while considering a cabinet minister like Rohit Thakur could help balance political experience with administrative clout.
The central leadership is also weighing whether the “one man, one post” principle will apply, which could prevent a sitting minister from simultaneously serving as state party chief.
