Himachal Pradesh Congress got a new state chief in the form of Vinay Kumar (47). The former Deputy Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly took charge as the new state president of Congress on Sunday.
"This crown is full of challenges, the biggest being to bring the party workers out of their houses to work for the organisation. I will try to become the voice of the Congress workers in the state and ensure the victory of the party again in the 2027 assembly polls," Vinod said.
He then pledged to work as a link between the government and the organisation, making sure that works of party workers are done.
"Chunatiyon bhara hai yeh Taj" (this crown is full of challenges), and the biggest challenge at present is to bring the Congress workers out of their houses to work for the organisation. There has been no organisation in the state for the past year, and it has to be reconstituted till the booth level, which is a task," Kumar added.
Kumar is a three-term MLA from Renukaji constituency in Sirmaur district, and took charge amid sloganeering and showering of flowers by the party workers at Rajiv Bhavan. Born in an agriculturist Koli (dalit) family in Renuka Ji, Vinod’s father, Prem Singh, a former MLA, had also served as the chief parliamentary secretary earlier.
The new Congress state chief was appointed on November 22 after more than a year. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had, on November 6, 2024, dissolved the Pradesh Congress Committee in Himachal Pradesh, along with the district and block units, with immediate effect. All the same, Pratibha Singh, the state Congress chief, stayed in her post.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that Kumar, aligned with the Congress's ideology, has been appointed with consensus. Coming from the Scheduled Caste community, he would strengthen the party, and the Congress government would repeat in the state under his leadership.
"We will move forward with the blessings of the elders and 'josh and hosh' of the youth. The process of appointment of district presidents has started and would be appointed based on the field reports", he added.
"Kumar has been appointed with consensus after holding discussions with all the leaders, and the high command has given a green flag," said Congress state in-charge Rajni Patil.
"A new era has started in the Congress party with the new party president taking charge. Vinay represents the constituency of former and first Chief Minister Y S Parmar, and it is a moment of pride for the Sirmaur district, said Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri.
"Delay in appointment of the state president was not at our end, and I hope that the organisation would be re-constituted early and all active Congress workers be included," the outgoing president, Pratibha Singh, said.
Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh said, "I have full faith that Vinay, a strong and young leader, would strengthen the party, and we would support him wholeheartedly wherever needed. I am happy that Virbhadra Singh brought Kumar into politics. Right would be supported, wrong would be opposed, and the interest of the state would be above all and strengthening the party is the only agenda.”
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