Yog Raj Sharma
The North News
Shimla, August 8
The race to appoint a new president of the Himachal Pradesh Congress is gathering pace, with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu publicly signalling his preference for a leader from the Scheduled Castes or the existing state cabinet ministers. Speaking to reporters, Sukhu confirmed that state party leaders had conveyed their views to the Congress high command and that he, personally, had recommended one of these two options. “Whoever is appointed will work to strengthen the organisation,” he said, adding that discussions with party leadership in Delhi had been “meaningful” and that the process could take up to two months.
The anticipated appointment will likely be followed by a cabinet expansion and reshuffle, a move Sukhu suggested was on the cards in the near future. Himachal Congress president Pratibha Singh has already indicated she may step down, fuelling speculation about the party’s next steps ahead of the 2027 assembly elections.
On the BJP’s criticism over the state government’s decision to launch a lottery scheme, Sukhu pushed back, pointing out that “many BJP-ruled states already run lotteries”. He stressed that tickets would be sold online only and not in shops. “This will be voluntary – no one will be forced to participate,” he said.
