Congress politics in Himachal Pradesh is once again heating up, this time over the selection of a new Pradesh Congress Committee Chief. The decision could also lead to a long-awaited cabinet reshuffle.
The recent visit of Congress in-charge for Himachal Pradesh, Rajni Patil, has brought the party’s internal power struggle into the spotlight.
Party sources indicate that Patil’s discussions with leaders in Shimla suggest the Congress high command is likely to appoint a new state party chief, which may result in the removal of former MP Pratibha Singh from the post.
If this happens, it could weaken the influence of the family of late six-time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh within the party.
As a result, Pratibha Singh’s supporters are working to ensure that another leader loyal to Virbhadra Singh is chosen as the next Congress chief.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who successfully fended off attempts to destabilize his government last year, is pushing for his own loyalist to take over as the party chief.
This would strengthen his control over both the government and the party organisation. The new Congress President will also play a key role in deciding ticket distribution for the 2027 Assembly elections. The situation remains uncertain, as the selection of the new party chief is also linked to the anticipated cabinet reshuffle.
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One of the major concerns within the party is the imbalance in the current cabinet. Shimla district has three ministers, while Kangra—the state’s largest district—has only two.
Additionally, Pratibha Singh, the current party chief, is also from Shimla, further complicating the situation. The poor performance of some ministers has led to speculation that they might be dropped from the cabinet, though making such changes could prove difficult.
When asked about the party leadership issue, Chief Minister Sukhu said, “I have no idea about who is going to be the party President.” However, sources close to him suggest that he is actively lobbying for a close aide to take over the position to maintain his grip on the organisation as the party prepares for the 2027 elections.
On the other hand, Pratibha Singh stated that Congress in-charge Rajni Patil has consulted all party leaders to gather feedback. “The party high command has read their minds and would make a decision on the party President consciously, considering all the factors,” she said.
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