Himachal Govt Formation HIGHLIGHTS: Congress Prez Kharge, Rahul, Priyanka & Others To Attend Oath Ceremony Tomorrow, Says Sukhu
Himachal Government Formation Live: Stay tuned to this page for all the latest updates and Breaking News on the government formation in Himachal Pradesh
Background
Himachal Government Formation LIVE: After the Congress victory in the Himachal Pradesh election, the party's MLAs are set to meet on Friday in Shimla to decide on the name of the chief minister. After securing a majority on its own, the party faces the uphill task to choose its chief ministerial candidate among various aspirants including former chief minister Virbhadra Singh's wife Pratibha Singh. Among other apparent contenders for the post are former state Congress chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and CLP leader Mukesh Agnihotri.
According to news agency ANI, Himachal Congress Legislature Party meeting is scheduled to be held at 3 pm at State Congress Headquarters, Rajiv Bhawan today. Rajeev Shukla, in-charge of the Himachal Pradesh Congress, and supervisors Bhupesh Baghel and Bhupendra Hooda will be present at the meeting.
The MLAs are expected to pass a resolution authorising the party's high command to take the final call for the same.
The Congress had not projected a Chief Ministerial candidate in the hill state and faces the task of choosing a chief ministerial face without creating factions in the state unit. As per ANI, the meeting of MLAs was earlier planned to be held in Chandigarh but after the party got a clear majority, the meeting was decided to take place in the state's capital.
Congress Wins Himachal Pradesh
The Congress party wrested power from the BJP, winning 40 out of the 68 seats as the state chose to continue with the “Riwaz”, or tradition, of changing the government after every five years. The BJP won 25 seats and independents got three seats. The AAP drew a blank.
While Chief Minister Jairam Thakur won by a record 36,000-plus votes, the margin of victory was less than 1,000 in eight seats and the Congress won the Bhorang SC) seat by the lowest margin of 60 votes.
Veteran Congress leader and eight-time MLA Kaul Singh Thakur, former Congress minister, and six-time MLA Asha Kumari, and former Congress minister Ram Lal Thakur, all of them eyeing the CM post, were defeated. Champa Thakur, daughter of Kaul Singh who contested from Mandi, too lost the election.
The lone CPI(M) candidate, Rakesh Singha, suffered defeat at the hands of former HPCC president Kuldeep Singh Rathore from Theog constituency. The Congress won seven out of eight seats in the Shimla district, four out of five seats in Solan district, three out of five seats in Sirmaur, four out of five seats each in Una and Hamirpur, and ten out of 15 seats in the Kangra district.
Himachal Pradesh CM: Congress' Battle Within
With Congress winning Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls, the next race is now for the Chief Minister with state party president Pratibha Singh being considered a key frontrunner, closely followed by former party chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and outgoing Congress Legislature Party leader Mukesh Agnihotri.
Deciding on the chief ministerial face who can bind the party going forward is the immediate challenge for Congress.
It's A Courtesy Call, I Congratulate Him: Chief Minister Jairam Thakur After Meeting Sukhu
"It's a courtesy call. I congratulate him. We will work together to serve the people of Himachal," Outgoing Himachal Pradesh CM Jairam Thakur was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
"It's a courtesy call. I congratulate him. We will work together to serve the people of Himachal," says Outgoing Himachal Pradesh CM Jairam Thakur https://t.co/VqBxc4C4FA pic.twitter.com/9UBQMeZYoa
— ANI (@ANI) December 10, 2022
Congress Prez Kharge, Rahul, Priyanka & Others To Attend Oath Ceremony Tomorrow, Says Sukhu
"Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge Ji, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Ashok Gehlot and many other leaders will attend the oath ceremony tomorrow," says #HimachalPradesh CM designate Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu pic.twitter.com/yxL2oBbQlB
— ANI (@ANI) December 10, 2022
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