CM Sukhu returns from Delhi, Congress state president to be announced after Diwali

October 18, 2025

The ongoing speculation regarding organizational reshuffle and cabinet expansion within the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) may soon be put to rest. According to party sources, the name of the state Congress president will be announced after Diwali. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu returned to Shimla on Friday evening after a visit to Delhi.

In Delhi, the Chief Minister met with party’s National General Secretary KC Venugopal and state in-charge Rajni Patil. During the meeting, the current state of the Himachal Pradesh organization, preparations for the upcoming Panchayat elections, and cabinet expansion were discussed.

The Chief Minister also offered suggestions regarding filling a vacant position in his cabinet. It is believed that organizational changes will be made after Diwali. Several names are being considered for this position. Among them, former state president and current MLA Kuldeep Singh Rathore and Education Minister Rohit Thakur are the most discussed. Arki MLA Sanjay Awasthi and Assembly Deputy Speaker Vinay Kumar are also being speculated as potential state presidents.

On the other hand, a large section of the party favors reinstating Pratibha Singh. They argue that considering Pratibha Singh’s role in the 2022 assembly elections and the organizational strength of the Congress party under her leadership, re-electing her as president would be in the party’s best interest. Rohit Thakur has even announced his resignation upon becoming president. In such a situation, two MLAs could be in contention for ministerial positions. Sunder Singh Thakur from Kullu, Sanjay Ratan from Kangra, and Sanjay Awasthi from Arki are among those in the running for ministerial positions.

High Command’s Decision Acceptable to All: Pratibha
Congress State President Pratibha Singh stated that whoever the party high command appoints as state president will be acceptable to all. Top party leaders have come to Shimla and collected feedback. Now, the next decision rests with the high command. At a program organized by NIFA in memory of the martyrs at the Ridge Ground in Shimla on Friday, the Congress President said that it has been a year since the organization was dissolved.

She had raised the issue of its reformation with the party high command. Pratibha Singh said that the soldiers of the army are engaged in protecting the country, in memory of the soldiers who have been martyred, these lamps are being lit before Diwali near the statue of Lieutenant General Daulat Singh.