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Buoyant Congress faces task of picking new Himachal CM. Here are 3 main contenders

The three main contenders are MP Pratibha Singh, former state president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and leader of Opposition in the outgoing assembly Mukesh Agnihotri. 

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New Delhi: With the Congress looking at a decisive win in Himachal Pradesh, the party will now have to choose a chief minister in the state where it saw factional feuds just a few months ago.

According to party sources, the three main contenders for the chief minister’s chair are state unit chief and MP Pratibha Singh, former state president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and leader of Opposition in the outgoing assembly Mukesh Agnihotri.

Congress’s election in-charge for Himachal Pradesh, Rajiv Shukla, said the party’s winning MLAs have been asked to move to Chandigarh after collecting their certificates. Shukla and Congress’s senior observer for the state, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, will also head towards Shimla. Another party observer, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has already camped there.

The MLAs may also be moved to Shimla after the numbers become clearer and the Congress is assured that the BJP will not make any attempts at “horse trading”, said Shukla.

“The high command will decide after discussion with MLAs,” said Shukla in Delhi, when asked about a new chief minister of Himachal Pradesh.

According to party sources, Shukla and Baghel will send their recommendations to AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra after consultation with MLAs. Vadra, who was at the helm of the party’s campaign in Himachal, will play a key role in deciding who the next CM will be.

Meanwhile, Pratibha Singh’s son, Vikramaditya Singh, who won the Shimla (rural) seat, has already staked claim for his mother. Pratibha Singh is the wife of Congress stalwart Virbhadra Singh who served six terms as chief minister of Himachal Pradesh. He was elected as MLA nine times and as an MP to the Lok Sabha five times. After his death in 2021, Pratibha Singh was elected as MP from his Mandi seat.

Speaking to reporters after his win, Vikramaditya said as a son, he’d want his mother to get responsibility, but maintained caution.

“Besides being a son, I am also a responsible leader of the party. We will respect whatever the party decides. I am sure the party will take into account what the people want,” he added.

He also hailed his father’s legacy.

“We have to walk the path shown by Virbhadra ji. The government will work on the ‘Virbhadra Singh vikas model’. He must be smiling today in heaven,” he told NDTV.

On the other hand, Sukhwinder Sukhu, when asked by reporters, also said that he will leave the decision to the MLAs and the party high command.


Also read:Disaster in Gujarat but solace in Himachal: What Congress will take away from assembly polls


The three contenders & their loyalties

Within the state unit, Pratibha Singh and Sukhwinder Sukhu are rival factions, while Mukesh Agnihotri is understood to be on good terms with both leaders.

ThePrint has learnt that Agnihotri’s name emerged as one of the contenders due to his “neutral” allegiances that is likely to save the party from falling into a factional crisis like it has faced in many other state units.

Pratibha Singh, while a possible choice due to Virbhadra’s legacy, does not seem to hold a great equation with the party high command.

In an interview to ThePrint before the polls, she said that Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi had “no time” for senior leaders.

“This generation gap was addressed by Indiraji, Rajivji and Soniaji during their time, but the new generation doesn’t have patience and maturity to bridge the gap,” she’d said.

Sukhwinder Sukhu, on the other hand, enjoys a good equation with both Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi. After the party’s victory, he credited Priyanka for her role in the same.

“Priyanka Gandhi played an important role in the victory of Himachal elections. Her home is in Himachal and being the daughter of the state, she sweated a lot for the victory of the party. She did eight rallies in the state. It shows how much she loves the people of Himachal,” Sukhu said after the numbers became clear.

This is the fourth time that Sukhu, a strong Thakur face of the party, is set to become an MLA.

Mukesh Agnihotri, according to party sources, is the name suggested by both Singh and Sukhu, as the “second choice” in case they are not given the chief minister’s chair. What may go against Agnihotri, however, is that he is a Brahmin. Since its formation, Himachal Pradesh has had only one Brahmin CM, BJP’s Shanta Kumar. All other CMs have been from the Thakur community.

Sources, however, also said that while Rahul Gandhi has kept himself away from the elections, he may be involved in the selection process for a CM. In that case, there is a possibility that a dark horse may emerge.


Also read: After ‘Bharat Jodo,’ Congress plans ‘Haath Se Haath Jodo’ ahead of key assembly polls in 2023


 

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