Sukhwinder Sukhu became the 15th Chief Minister of Himachal, Agnihotri Deputy Chief Minister, swearing-in ceremony tomorrow
Amidst the high voltage drama, the way for the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh has finally been cleared by Delhi’s green signal on Saturday. Four-time MLA and former state Congress president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu was declared as the 15th Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. Apart from this, Mukesh Agnihotri, who was the Leader of the Opposition in the current assembly, will be the Deputy Chief Minister. At the same time, Pratibha Singh dropped out of the race for the post of Chief Minister. The swearing-in ceremony will take place on Sunday at 1:30 pm at the Ridge ground in Shimla. Now the names of the ministers will be decided soon.
After the approval of Sukhu’s name by the high command, a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party was held in Shimla on Saturday evening. In this, Sukhu was unanimously elected as the leader of the Legislature Party. In the swearing-in ceremony, former National President of Congress Rahul Gandhi, National General Secretary of the party Priyanka Gandhi, apart from the newly elected MLA of the party, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Bhupesh Baghel, former Chief Minister of Haryana Bhupinder Hooda, State Congress in-charge Rajeev Shukla and many party leaders will be present. . Sukhu, who came into the politics of Himachal Pradesh through NSUI, has also been the party’s state president for about six years. Sukhu, 58, was the chairman of the Congress election campaign committee in the state and has been elected as MLA from Nadaun assembly seat in Hamirpur district. A new faction of Sukhu has emerged parallel to the Pratibha Virbhadra Singh camp in Himachal Pradesh.
On Friday, the Congress Legislature Party sent a single line proposal to the Congress high command in Delhi. The high command had to decide who would be the chief minister. After this, again a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party started at 5:00 pm on Saturday in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly premises. Most of the Congress MLAs including the Sukhu camp participated in it. Mukesh Agnihotri reached the meeting late at around 5:45 pm. He kept meeting with some of his supporting MLAs at Hotel Sicil. In Shimla, some leaders of Pratibha Virbhadra Singh faction also raised slogans against Sukhu. However, the atmosphere calmed down after Sukhu was declared the Chief Minister and Mukesh Agnihotri as Deputy Chief Minister.
Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has been elected unanimously as the leader of the Legislature Party. Sukhu will be the chief minister, while Mukesh Agnihotri will be the deputy chief minister.
Rajeev Shukla, Himachal Pradesh Congress in-charge
Sukhu became emotional, thanked the Gandhi family
Sukhwinder Sukhu became emotional after announcing his name for the post of CM. He wiped his tears. Sukhu expressed gratitude to Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi besides former Congress National President Sonia Gandhi for getting the responsibility of CM. He said that the Gandhi family also made him the president of the State Congress Committee. Now he has also made CM. He also thanks the people of Himachal for this.
It is now my responsibility to fulfill the promises made to the people of the state: Sukhu
Sukhwinder Sukhu said that now it will be my responsibility to implement the promises made by him to the people of the state. Sukhu said that power should not be there only for the sake of power, but to change the system. He will give a clean and honest administration with the innocent people of Himachal. People have blessed him. He has also given a lot of love. Whatever decisions will be taken, will be taken only after discussion with the common and poor people.
Legislative party meeting twice in 24 hours
The Congress Legislature Party met for the second time on Saturday within 24 hours to elect the Chief Minister. No consensus could be reached on any single name in Friday’s meeting. After this, a one-line resolution was passed in the meeting and the right to choose the Chief Minister was handed over to the Congress President.
Presented claim to form government by going to Raj Bhavan
After electing Sukhu as the chief minister in the Congress Legislature Party meeting, the party leaders went to the Raj Bhavan and staked claim to form the government. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Rajeev Shukla, Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, Pratibha Singh, Mukesh Agnihotri met Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.
Vikramaditya Singh said this
Congress MLA from Shimla Rural Vikramaditya Singh said that he respects the decision taken by the party high command. There is no despair over the decision of the party. He said that the Congress party is united and will remain united. The decision taken by the high command is acceptable. Vikramaditya advised all the workers to exercise restraint. He said that the party has taken a conscious decision.
Sukhwinder Sukhu paid courtesy call on Jairam Thakur
New Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Congress in-charge Rajeev Shukla and other Congress leaders met outgoing Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur at Chief Minister’s residence in Shimla. Jairam Thakur said that it was a courtesy call. I congratulate him. We will work together to serve the people of Himachal.
Himachal Pradesh CM-designate Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, Congress Himachal Pradesh in-charge Rajeev Shukla and other Congress leaders meet former Himachal Pradesh CM Jairam Thakur at CM residence in Shimla. pic.twitter.com/EldzoV7eP5
— ANI (@ANI) December 10, 2022
Sukhu is close to Rahul
Sukhu is considered close to Rahul Gandhi. According to sources, he has also been known as a critic of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. Sukhu’s name was leading in the race for the post of Chief Minister from the beginning. Although, on Friday, he had said that he was not a contender for the post of Chief Minister, but had also said that the Chief Minister would be someone from among the elected MLAs.
Pratibha’s pressure strategy didn’t work
Himachal Pradesh’s six-time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh’s wife and State Congress President and MP Pratibha Singh had indirectly projected herself as the Chief Minister’s contender since the election results. He had said that the party won the election on the strength of Virbhadra Singh’s name, face and work. The top leadership cannot ignore Virbhadra’s family. His supporters also gheraoed the central observers in Shimla on Friday and raised slogans demanding Pratibha Singh to be made the chief minister. Sources said perhaps this pressure tactic may have backfired and Pratibha Singh’s name was not included in the list of three names considered by the party high command for the chief minister’s post.
Pratibha supporters kept shouting slogans
Haroli Congress MLA Mukesh Agnihotri left the Legislature Party meeting and walked out. Supporters kept shouting slogans in favor of Pratibha Singh outside the Sicil Hotel located at Chaura Maidan. It became difficult for the police to stop the supporters. Pratibha supporters come to their senses, Hollyoaks kept shouting slogans for the seventh time. Supporters alleged that under a pre-planned conspiracy, Pratibha Singh was made the state Congress president. Votes were taken in the name of late Virbhadra Singh, who was Chief Minister six times, now it has been ignored.
