Sunil Chadha
New Delhi/Shimla:
After nearly nine months of functioning with only a state president at the helm, the Himachal Pradesh Congress may finally be on the verge of reconstituting its long-awaited organisational structure. A high-level meeting of the party leadership is scheduled in Delhi on Monday (August 4, 2025), which could bring clarity on the formation of state committees and possibly a new state Congress president.
The closed-door deliberations at the party headquarters at 24 Akbar Road are to be attended by top Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Himachal in-charge Rajni Patil and both co-incharges for the state. From the state unit, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, state Congress president Pratibha Singh, Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri and several ministers will participate.
Party insiders suggest that a new state president may be appointed and discussions regarding the formation of the Pradesh Executive Committee, which was dissolved last November, are also expected.
Pressure mounts as local body elections approach
With elections for panchayati raj institutions and urban local bodies expected by the end of this year, there is growing pressure within the party to revamp its organisational machinery. Congress workers across districts have voiced frustration over the lack of a full-time structure at the block and district levels, hampering preparations for upcoming polls.
The leadership vacuum has persisted since November 6, 2023, when the state, district and block-level committees were dissolved. Since then, only Pratibha Singh has formally held a leadership role. Adding to the urgency, her three-year term as president has already lapsed, fuelling speculation that a new face might replace her.
Party strategists view the coming panchayat and urban elections as a litmus test for the 2027 Assembly polls and want a robust team in place to deliver a strong performance and build momentum against the BJP.
Factional divide over state leadership
A growing rift within the party has added complexity to the decision. Supporters of the late former CM Virbhadra Singh, including many MLAs, are lobbying for Pratibha Singh to continue as state chief. On the other hand, Chief Minister Sukhu’s camp is reportedly pushing for fresh leadership, arguing that the party needs new energy and alignment ahead of the polls.
While the final decision rests with the Congress high command, sources suggest a balancing act may be attempted to satisfy both camps.
Beyond the organisational overhaul, the meeting is also expected to review pending government appointments. One ministerial post remains vacant in the state Cabinet and several boards and corporations are still awaiting appointments of chairpersons and vice-chairpersons.
With over two and a half years of the Congress government completed, there is also speculation that the leadership may use this opportunity to evaluate the performance of sitting ministers and make mid-term adjustments, if needed.
