Tussle over choice of district presidents holds up formation of new Himachal Congress executive body

The Himachal Pradesh Congress continues to face internal turmoil as the formation of its new executive committee remains stalled due to factional disputes and leadership disagreements.
Nearly five months after the dissolution of the previous state executive, the party has failed to reconstitute its organisational structure, leaving the Himachal unit in a state of paralysis.

Sources said the delay is primarily attributed to the ongoing power tussle between Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s camp and state Congress president Pratibha Singh’s faction, with both sides locked in a battle over key appointments and organisational strategy.

Leaders oppose copying BJP model of extra organisational bodies

At the heart of the conflict is also the contentious proposal to expand the party’s organisational districts from 13 to 17, mirroring the BJP’s model in the state.

While some leaders argue that the expansion would help accommodate more leaders and strengthen the party’s grassroots presence, others have resisted what they see as an unnecessary imitation of the rival party’s structure.

This disagreement has particularly delayed the appointment of district presidents. The Congress high command’s decision to directly oversee the formation of the new executive, based on reports submitted by central observers, has further complicated matters.

This departure from the traditional practice of allowing the state president to form the team has led to frustration among local leaders.

New in-charge Rajni Patil’s 15-day promise comes to naught

Rajni Patil, the newly appointed state in-charge, had promised a swift resolution within 15 days during her visit in February, but more than a month later, the party remains without a functional executive.
CM Sukhu’s recent meeting with Patil in Delhi failed to break the deadlock. Pratibha Singh too had met Patil earlier on the issue.

The prolonged delay has left the Congress in a vulnerable position, with workers growing increasingly disillusioned and the government lacking a robust organisational defence against opposition criticism.
As the party prepares for upcoming elections to panchayati raj bodies, the absence of a cohesive leadership structure threatens to undermine its electoral prospects.

With the 2027 Assembly elections also on the horizon, the Congress faces mounting pressure to resolve its internal divisions and present a united front, lest it cedes further ground to an emboldened BJP in the state, said a senior party leader.

Sunil Chadha