Shimla, December 10: Four-time legislator Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, 58, also the head of the Congress’ election committee, has been handpicked to be the next Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, while Mukesh Agnihotri will be his deputy.
Their oath of office will be held in the state capital on Sunday at 11 a.m. with the induction of Council of Ministers later as per the discretion of the Chief Minister.
Sukhu, who is known for his proximity with the Gandhi family, was named leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) after two days of hectic politicking by AICC in-charge for state Rajiv Shukla after his appointment was approved by Mallikarjun Kharge.
The newly-appointed Chief Minister thanked the senior leaders for their decision to entrust him with the charge of leading the state of Himachal Pradesh as its new chief.
I am thankful to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and the people of the state. Our govt will bring change. It is my responsibility to fulfil the promises we made to the people of Himachal Pradesh. We have to work for the development of the state: CM designate SS Sukhu pic.twitter.com/7yKZPOf13i
— ANI (@ANI) December 10, 2022
Later in the evening after the announcement was made, Sukhu, accompanied by state Congress chief Pratibha Virbhadra Singh, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel and other Congress leaders met state Governor RV Arlekar and staked claim to form the government in the state.
A native of Hamirpur district, Sukhu started his political career in the Congress’ student wing National Students’ Union of India, being an activist at the Himachal Pradesh University. He emerged through the ranks and led the NSUI state unit in the late 1980s and mid 1990s (1989-95).
Graduating to a full-time political career, he was president of the state Youth Congress in the 2000s (1998-08). He won the municipal election twice in Shimla, and was then made secretary of the state unit in 2008, eventually getting to the top of the state unit. was also chief whip of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) from 2007 to 2012.
Sukhu is a grassroots leader, perceived to have a self-made image having risen up from humble beginnings unlike his Congress counterparts Pratibha Singh and Mukesh Agnihotri. He has been known as an aggressive firebrand leader since his student activism days.
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