The Himachal Pradesh Congress is set to welcome a new state president within the next ten days, as announced by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. This development comes as six influential party leaders have been summoned to Delhi for deliberations with the Congress high command. The state party apparatus has been largely inactive since November 6, 2024, when Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge dissolved the existing state, district, and block committees to facilitate an organizational revamp. Party workers in Himachal have expressed their desire for the prompt re-establishment of these units, especially with the possibility of panchayat elections pending improved road connectivity after the monsoon-induced disaster. Pratibha Singh, who continued as state president after her term officially ended in April 2025, leaves a significant leadership void. The group summoned to the capital includes prominent figures such as Education Minister Rohit Thakur, Deputy Speaker Vinay Kumar, and MLAs Kuldeep Rathore, Ashish Butail, Vinod Sultanpuri, and Suresh Kumar. The upcoming meetings, arranged by Mallikarjun Kharge at the behest of Rahul Gandhi, will commence with collective discussions before moving to individual consultations. Chief Minister Sukhu has reportedly advised the central leadership to consider prioritizing a Scheduled Caste leader for the top post or to seek the state cabinet’s input if a minister is considered. He emphasized that he has not put forward any specific candidate. The party is also reportedly exploring the possibility of appointing three working presidents to ensure broader representation across regions and castes, while upholding its ‘one person, one post’ policy.
