Who Will Be Congress' Himachal CM If It Wins Polls? Problem Of Plenty For Party

With no pre-poll CM face and several names doing the rounds, Congress has an uphill task of appointing a candidate to the top post if it wins the Himachal Pradesh elections.

The results for the Himachal Pradesh elections 2022 will be out tomorrow and if the trend of alternate governments continues, the Congress will find itself facing the difficult task of deciding on a chief minister.

Everything will depend on the new MLAs — how they pitch their candidature to the party high command and how they form their own alliances.

There are more than half a dozen names in the race for the post of the CM. Sources said five of these names are being seriously considered for the top job of the state.

PRATIBHA SINGH

Himachal Pradesh Congress President Pratibha Singh is the wife of former CM Virbhadra Singh. Pratibha Singh, an MP from the Mandi Lok Sabha seat, did not contest the assembly elections. However, she could stake claim to the post of CM as the Congress used the face of Virbhadra Singh throughout its campaign.

SUKHWINDER SINGH SUKHU

Former state president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu was made the head of the campaign committee this time. Sukhu is said to be the choice of Rahul Gandhi despite his differences with Virbhadra Singh. Pratibha Singh is likely to strongly oppose his nomination as CM. A three-time MLA, Sukhu is contesting from the Nadaun seat in the Hamirpur district.

MUKESH AGNIHOTRI

Leader of Opposition in the Himachal Assembly Mukesh Agnihotri was a minister in the Virbhadra Singh government. Pratibha Singh is considered close to Singh and she may support his candidature for the CM’s post. A four-time MLA Agnihotri is contesting from the Haroli seat in the Una district.

THAKUR KAUL SINGH

Thakur Kaul Singh is the seniormost leader of the Himachal Pradesh Congress. The 77-year-old Kaul Singh was elected MLA eight times from the Darrang seat in Mandi district. A former state president and a minister in the state government, Kaul stood firmly by Pratibha Singh after the death of Raja Virbhadra Singh. Now, he may expect some return for his loyalty. However, his age may go against his candidature. Kaul Singh lost the last election and is once again contesting the Darrang seat.

ASHA KUMARI

A six-time MLA from the Dalhousie seat of Chamba district, Asha Kumari has been in charge of the Punjab Congress. Besides being a strong woman leader in the Congress, Asha Kumari’s claim to the CM’s seat is strong as she is the sister of Chhattisgarh minister TS Singh.

Apart from these leaders, two others are being considered for the post:

First is Harshvardhan Chauhan, who is a five-time MLA from the Shillai seat in Sirmaur district. His father has been a minister in the Himachal Pradesh government.

Second is Rajesh Dharmani, who is the National Secretary of Congress and is close to Rahul Gandhi's team. Dharmani has been MLA twice from Ghumarwin seat of Bilaspur though he lost the last election.