Shimla: A seemingly simple gesture by Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri on Monday morning has triggered a political buzz across Himachal Pradesh. Agnihotri posted a rare picture with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on social media — a moment not seen in months.
The photo shows CM Sukhu visiting Agnihotri’s residence to check on his daughter, Aastha Agnihotri, who recently suffered a right leg injury. While the visit appeared personal, the post’s political undertone hasn’t gone unnoticed.
In a state where optics often hint at underlying power equations, this image has become a talking point. Agnihotri has not shared any similar photo with Sukhu in recent months, fueling perceptions of a rift or political distance between the state’s top two leaders. The timing, amid ongoing chatter about cabinet performance reviews and internal reshuffles, makes the post even more intriguing.
Social media reactions reflect the mixed sentiment: many expressed sympathy for Aastha’s injury, but others speculated whether this was a signal of patched ties or merely a politically correct formality. “Are things settling down in the Congress house?” one comment read. Another said, “Good to see them together — but what’s brewing behind the scenes?”
Political observers point out that since their swearing-in in December 2022, visible joint engagements between Sukhu and Agnihotri have been few and far between. The Deputy CM has maintained a relatively low public profile, especially after the personal tragedy of losing his wife, Prof Simmi Agnihotri, in early 2024. Sukhu had then visited to offer condolences, yet subsequent political events often saw the two maintaining parallel trajectories.
With Congress in power and facing growing public expectations, this sudden display of warmth between the CM and his deputy could either be a strategic move to present unity — or a well-timed message ahead of political recalibrations.
Whether this photo marks a reset in their political relationship or merely a fleeting pause in the silence remains to be seen. But in Himachal’s corridors of power, no picture is just a picture.
S Gopal Puri
