Munish Sood
MANDI:
The Congress in Himachal Pradesh has attempted an organisational reboot by replacing its old guard with a carefully balanced, young leadership profile.
Vinay Kumar’s elevation as the new state Congress president has been projected with unusually high enthusiasm by the party’s top brass, including Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri. But the big question remains: Will changing the face revive a structurally weak organisation battling for survival, or is this just another eyewash to manage internal contradictions?
At Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan in Shimla, the installation ceremony for Vinay Kumar was choreographed as a show of strength. Senior leaders held hands, slogans of “new-age, energetic Congress” were raised and party in-charge Rajni Patil invoked the power of “Rajput, Brahmin and SC leadership — three Brahma-like faces” — to take on the BJP’s aggressive 2027 mission.
Patil offered a clear message before rushing for her return flight: “Vinay Kumar is the high command’s choice and now carries the dual burden of supporting the government and resurrecting the organisation.”
But behind the optics of unity, the murmurs of scepticism are still loud in the Congress rank and file.
Immediately after the ceremony, CM Sukhu made a political move heavy with symbolism. He announced a major anti-BJP show of strength on December 11 at Mandi’s Paddal Ground, an arena famous for several massive rallies addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the years.
The choice of venue is deliberate. The Congress wants to challenge the BJP on its strongest turf. But can a rally and a new president neutralise the structural weaknesses that have crippled the Congress organisation for years?
Viral moment that revealed more than it hid
One moment from the event dominated social media — a video showing Vinay Kumar hesitating to sit on the president’s chair in the presence of top leaders. The clip went viral as supporters interpreted it as humility, while critics saw it as political nervousness.
CM Sukhu said, “Before being Chief Minister, I am a simple worker. The president’s chair deserves respect.” Deputy CM Agnihotri chimed in, insisting that “a strong organisation is the foundation of a strong government”.
These statements, though well-crafted, underline the internal reality: the party is trying hard to restore organisational primacy, which has eroded over years of factionalism.
Former PCC president Pratibha Singh gave her replacement a warm welcome, but with a sting. In her trademark forthright style, she said coordination between government and organisation would work only if organisational workers were given real positions of power.
Her statement was a reflection of her own tenure, a period marked by visible sidelining and a near-powerless party structure. For three years, she struggled for organisational authority; for the final year, she operated with zero decision-making power.
Many Congress workers privately recall how during the Virbhadra era, they carried the party flag believing their time would come. For them, changing the top face without empowering the organisation at the grassroots feels like old wine in a new bottle.
BJP Factor: Mission 2027 and Modi-Shah watchfulness
Another layer to this story is the BJP’s strategy. After the 2022 loss, insiders say the Modi-Shah leadership will not leave the 2027 Himachal election in the hands of state leaders alone. The BJP’s central command is expected to intervene early, aggressively and systematically.
This means the Congress needs more than symbolism; it needs a surgical restructuring of both government and party machinery. So, can Vinay Kumar change the Congress’ fate?
Among party workers, the response to the question “How is the josh?” remains diplomatically optimistic: “High, sir.” But their confidence appears shaky. They remember how even Pratibha Singh — backed by the towering legacy of the Virbhadra family — could not secure support from Delhi or Shimla. They fear Vinay Kumar may face the same fate: a big chair but no power behind it. Unless, the Congress high command does a surgical change instead of a cosmetic one.
