Himachal Pradesh: Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu Next CM, Mukesh Agnihotri Deputy CM. Oath Ceremony Tomorrow

Four-time incumbent MLA Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu will be the next chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, with Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri. There will be an oath ceremony tomorrow at 11 am.

Congress Leader Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu ( Image Source :PTI )

Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel said on Saturday that the next chief minister of Himachal Pradesh will be Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, and the new deputy chief minister will be Mukesh Agnihotri. The oath ceremony will take place tomorrow. 

Congress leader Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu to be CM of Himachal Pradesh and Mukesh Agnihotri to be Deputy CM. Oath ceremony will take place tomorrow at 11 am: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel pic.twitter.com/k5esMKURZB

— ANI (@ANI) December 10, 2022

Reacting to the announcement, the future chief minister of the state said that he will be working with the deputy chief minister as a team. "Mukesh Agnihotri, the Deputy Chief Minister-designate, and I will collaborate. I began my political career when I was 17 years old. I will never forget what the Congress party has done for me," Sukhu was quoted as saying by ANI.

Deputy CM designate Mukesh Agnihotri and I will work as a team. I started my political career at the age of 17 years. I will never be able to forget what the Congress party has done for me: Himachal Pradesh CM designate Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu pic.twitter.com/tsXcD9r07R

— ANI (@ANI) December 10, 2022

Sukhu is the four-time incumbent MLA of Himachal Pradesh's Nadaun assembly constituency. From 2013 to 2019, he was the president of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee.

Sukhu further added that he is grateful to the party's high command and that it is his responsibility to fulfill the promises made by the party.

I am thankful to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and the people of the state. Our govt will bring change. It is my responsibility to fulfil the promises we made to the people of Himachal Pradesh. We have to work for the development of the state: CM designate SS Sukhu pic.twitter.com/7yKZPOf13i

— ANI (@ANI) December 10, 2022

The decision came a day after newly elected Congress MLAs endorsed a resolution authorising the Congress high leadership to choose the legislature party's next leader.

Aside from Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, who headed the Congress campaign committee during the assembly election, Mandi MP and state party president Pratibha Singh and outgoing assembly Leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri were the frontrunners for the chief ministership.

Pratibha Singh supporters and the Sukhu camp staged a show of force in front of party observers at Rajeev Bhawan, the Congress headquarters, on Friday night.

(With Inputs From Agencies)