Congress turns the page in Himachal: Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is CM

The Congress has returned to power in the state, toppling the BJP by securing 40 of the 68 seats in the House.

The party choice of CM is a major setback to Pratibha, who had openly staked claim to the top post invoking the legacy of Singh, the five-time Chief Minister who died last July.

Singh became Chief Minister for the first time in 1983. He went on to become the Chief Minister again in 1985, 1993, 2004 and 2012.

An unhappy Pratibha and her son grudgingly accepted the high command decision. Sources said the majority of the MLAs had backed Sukhu, prompting the high command to decide in his favour.

The party decision was announced by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, the AICC observer, in the presence of Pratibha, Sukhu and Agnihotri. AICC observer Bhupinder Singh Hooda and AICC in-charge of the state Rajeev Shukla too were present.

The observers then made a dash to the Raj Bhavan to meet the Governor to stake claim for formation of the government.

A visibly emotional Sukhu promised a clean and honest government. He said it was his responsibility to fulfil the promises made by the party to the people.

Calling Agnihotri his brother, he said they will work as a team. Noting that the team has 38 other players, he said all will be given responsibilities.

“We wanted to secure power not merely to be in power. We want to change the system. Give me some time. We need to work hard, struggle to bring in a new system and new thinking,” he said.

A four-time MLA from the Nadaun constituency in Himachal Pradesh and the head of the Congress’s election committee in the state, Sukhu, who is a law graduate, began his career in student politics and went on to rise to the position of state unit chief.

A popular leader, also known for his time-management skills, Sukhu was made president of the state party in 2013. He contested his first Assembly election in 2003 from Nadaun, winning the seat in 2007 and 2017.

Mukesh Agnihotri had contested from Haroli in south-west Himachal. He was elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) after the 2017 Assembly polls. Before joining politics, Agnihotri worked as a journalist for more than a decade, during which he also served as a member of the Himachal State Press Advisory Committee, Government Pahari Language Committee, and other panels.

Agnihotri contested his first election in 2003 from the Santokgarh Assembly seat in Una district. He was re-elected from the constituency in 2007. He went on to win from the Haroli constituency, which was known as Santokhgarh before delimitation, in the 2012 and 2017 Assembly polls.

As Leader of Opposition, Agnihotri led the Congress in the House, raising crucial issues like corruption, price rise and unemployment to corner the Jairam Thakur-led BJP government.