Shimla :
As the Himachal Pradesh cabinet begins its unprecedented two-day meeting on Monday (May 5, 2025) under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s leadership, political observers are focusing as much on the meeting’s agenda as on the deepening rift within the ruling Congress.
The spotlight is firmly on Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, whose cryptic social media post alleging a “conspiracy” has sparked fresh speculation about factionalism in the party.
Adding fuel to the fire, PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh, son of late six-term CM Virbhadra Singh, came out in open support of Agnihotri, escalating internal tensions just as key policy decisions await the cabinet.
Agnihotri’s ‘conspiracy’ charge rocks Congress
Agnihotri’s Facebook post — “Saajishon ka daur… jhoot ke paavn nahin hote” (An era of conspiracies… lies don’t last long) — appeared just a day after top state Congress leaders, including himself, CM Sukhu and PCC chief Pratibha Singh, attended a Congress Working Committee meeting in Delhi.
The post triggered a storm within the party ranks, with many interpreting it as a veiled jab at internal rivals.
Vikramaditya offered an unambiguous endorsement: “You are from the Virbhadra Singh school of thought… never be afraid, nor threaten without cause.”
His statement was seen as a direct attempt to position Agnihotri as a victim of internal power games, while also reviving the legacy of Virbhadra Singh as a rallying point for disenchanted Congress factions.
Factionalism deepens ahead of cabinet decisions
The Congress in Himachal has long been split between the factions led by CM Sukhu and Pratibha Singh (widow of Virbhadra Singh).
Agnihotri, who once shared close ties with the Virbhadra family, has maintained an independent stance lately. With the Congress high command reportedly considering a reshuffle in both party and government roles, Agnihotri’s post is being viewed as a strategic warning amid ongoing jostling for influence.
Insiders suggest a cabinet expansion or reshuffle may be on the cards, with one ministerial post lying vacant. Agnihotri, a senior leader and former Leader of the Opposition, was a strong contender for the top job after the 2022 win, but lost out to Sukhu due to community equations and inner-party dynamics.
Retirement age, pension reforms on agenda
Amid this political wrangling, the cabinet has a heavy policy agenda on cards. Top among them is a proposal to increase the retirement age of government employees from 58 to 59 years, a move aimed at deferring Rs 3,000 crore in pension liabilities and easing fiscal pressure.
However, this may spark backlash from unemployed youth, with the government likely to tread cautiously.
Another contentious proposal is to scrap the 40% pension commutation, a measure recommended by a cabinet sub-committee to delay pension payouts in the face of a financial crunch.
The cabinet will also deliberate on scrapping the 2003 contract hiring policy and replacing it with probationary or trainee-based recruitment, offering minimal salaries during the training period.
Application fees for government posts and the long-pending resolution of compassionate appointment cases, a key assurance by CM Sukhu in the Assembly, are also on the agenda.
S Gopal Puri
