Shimla: Congress’ Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has been sworn in as the 15th Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. The name of 58-year-old Sukhwinder was officially announced for the post of Chief Minister at a meeting of Congress Legislature Party members on Saturday.
The victory in Himachal was a big relief for the Congress despite its defeat in the assembly elections in Gujarat. The Congress was in power by winning 40 seats in the 68-member Himachal Legislative Assembly.
That is why the Congress is celebrating the inauguration of Sukhwinder Singh Sukh in a big way at the national level.
Congress leaders say that making Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu the chief minister is the Congress’ answer to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s taunt that he is nobody’s son or daughter.
Who is Sukhwinder Singh Sukh?
Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu started his political activities through the National Students Union of India (Chadaka). A four-time MLA, Sukhu has been elected Mayor of Shimla Municipal Corporation twice. He is a leader of the Rajput community, which accounts for about 33 percent of Himachal’s population. Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has won four times from Nadaun constituency in Hamirpur district.
In 2003, he won the first assembly elections from Naau constituency. He then retained this seat in 2007. But in 2012, Sukhu had to face defeat.
He then regained the seat in 2017 and won again in 2022. Sukh won this election with a majority of 3,363 votes.
He has a close relationship with Rahul Gandhi. Rahul arrived in Himachal on leave for the Bharat Jodo Yatra to attend the oath-taking ceremony on Sunday.
Suku was also the head of the election campaign committee in Himachal. So, when the election results came out, Sukhu’s name was the first to be promoted to the post of Prime Minister. He has been working in Himachal Congress for 40 years and is acceptable to the leadership and common people of the state.
Born in 1964. Sukhu served as the president of the Himachal Pradesh Congress for six years from 2013 to 2019. Before this, he also worked as the head of the Himachal Pradesh Youth Congress for 10 years.
He was NSUI President for seven years from 1988 to 1995.
Sukh’s rift with former chief minister Virbhadra Singh, who died last year, made national news.
Meanwhile, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath to Sukhu at a swearing-in ceremony in Shimla on Sunday. Mukesh Agnihotri was also sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister. Apart from Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and others were also present.
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