Senior Congress leader and four-time MLA from the Nadaun in Hamirpur district Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, 58, will be the new Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh while Mukesh Agnihotri, 60, will be the Deputy Chief Minister.
Agnihotri, who won assembly polls from the Haroli seat for the fifth consecutive term, was also in the race for the top job.
In her reaction to the development, HPCC president and MP Pratibha Singh said: “We hail the decision of the party high command.”
It is worth mentioning here that Pratibha Singh, wife of former chief minister Late Virbhadra Singh, was also in the race for the coveted slot.
Considered close to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Sukhu’s name was cleared after the approval from AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge. The swearing-in ceremony will be held on December 11 at the historic Ridge here.
Having risen from a humble background, Sukhu has emerged through the ranks after serving as the state unit president of all three wings of the Congress party – National Students Union of India (NSUI), Youth Congress, and Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee.
He was elected councilor twice in the municipal corporation elections from 1992-97 and again from 1997 to 2002.
Sukhu entered the Vidhan Sabha in 2003 after winning his first assembly elections. Subsequently, he won three more times, in 2007, 2017 and the just concluded assembly elections. From 2007 to 2012, Sukhu was also the Chief Whip of the Congress Legislative Party.
Coming out after the CLP meeting, the CM-designate thanked former party presidents, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, and party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi for giving him an opportunity to serve the people of the state
Sukhu hails from Bhabran village in Nadaun Tehsil, Hamirpur. He did his MA and LLB from the Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla.
He mentioned himself as a pensioner, private contractor, self-employed, and party leader under the column of the profession in his affidavit. He owns an Alto and a Scorpio. He has assets worth Rs 7.81 crore including Rs 7.75-crore immovable assets and Rs 57.22 lakh movable assets.
Meanwhile, Party General Secretary, KC Venugopal said that the swearing in ceremony of the new Government in Himachal will be attended by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi and AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi.
