Party likely to play SC card ahead of 2027 Assembly polls
TNR News Network
Shimla: Amid a reshuffle buzz in the Himachal Pradesh Congress, all eyes are now on senior Scheduled Caste leader and Shri Renukaji MLA Vinay Kumar, who is scheduled to meet AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi.
The meeting, being closely watched in political circles, is being seen as crucial in the party’s efforts to finalise a new state unit president.
Vinay Kumar, a three-time legislator and current Deputy Speaker of the Himachal Assembly, has already spent three days in the national capital. His meeting with Kharge was delayed due to the latter’s Karnataka visit, but sources indicate that the appointment is finally on the cards today.
The Congress high command is believed to be mulling over playing the SC card ahead of the 2027 Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections and Vinay Kumar’s name has gained traction accordingly.
Past contenders lack experience
Sources said that prior to Vinay Kumar, CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had pitched the names of two other SC leaders — Vinod Sultanpuri (MLA from Kasauli) and Suresh Kumar (MLA from Bhoranj) — for the top party post. However, both are first-time MLAs and their inexperience reportedly prevented a consensus among senior Congress leaders.
Vinay Kumar, by contrast, has held several key roles in the past. Apart from being a sitting Deputy Speaker, he earlier served as a working president of the Himachal Congress and a CPS (Chief Parliamentary Secretary) in the Virbhadra Singh-led government. While he is considered close to Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri, recent developments suggest a realignment, with CM Sukhu having appointed him Deputy Speaker, indicating potential support from both major factions.
Other names in fray, factionalism stalls decision
The race for the next HPCC chief has been marred by intense factionalism within the party. Even as the current state president Pratibha Singh’s term ended on April 25, 2025, the high command has not been able to announce a successor due to competing claims.
Besides SC candidates, several non-SC leaders have been lobbying for the post, including Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, MLAs Kuldeep Rathore and Sanjay Awasthi and even Vikramaditya Singh. A proposal to appoint Mukesh Agnihotri as state president had also surfaced but was met with strong opposition — reportedly upsetting Agnihotri himself. He later posted a cryptic message on social media: “In times of conspiracy, lies have no legs to stand on.”
If Vinay Kumar is eventually chosen as the new Himachal Congress chief, he may be required to step down as the Deputy Speaker. However, the final decision lies with the party high command and much depends on the outcome of today’s meeting in Delhi.
