Discontent in Kullu Cong over cabinet berth

Shimla Nov 12

Kullu district known as Congress bastion for long time now facing sudden discontent within party ranks as grand old party did not fulfill the long made promise.

According to media reports Congress is on the verge of another internal discord, with discontent brewing among party workers and supporters of legislators over political accommodation and representation in the state Cabinet.

The latest signs of unrest have emerged in Kullu, where supporters of Congress MLA Sunder Singh Thakur have openly expressed resentment over his prolonged exclusion from the ministry despite repeated indications by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu that he would be inducted.

Also Read Portfolios alloted to the seven newly inducted Mins in HP

The developing situation has added another layer to the political uncertainty surrounding the proposed Cabinet expansion and reshuffle, which appears to be awaiting the Congress high command’s approval. With the government approaching the completion of its fourth year on December 11, the delay in filling the vacant ministerial berth is increasingly becoming a source of embarrassment for the state leadership.

According to media reports Sunder Singh Thakur sought to distance himself from reports suggesting that he was contemplating leaving the Congress, but made it clear that the sentiment among his supporters could not be ignored.

He said party workers were angry and had been misled by false assurances. He would decide his future course of action according to their wishes.

Thakur maintained that he had not spoken about quitting the Congress himself, but referred to the resentment among party workers. Emphasising Kullu’s political standing, he said the district had its own rights and dignity and had traditionally enjoyed Cabinet representation under successive governments, barring the tenure of Shanta Kumar.

The resentment reportedly surfaced during a meeting of Thakur’s supporters in Kullu last Wednesday, where workers questioned the repeated assurances of ministerial induction without any concrete decision.

According to sources, some supporters have even suggested exploring the possibility of contesting the next Assembly elections as independents or on the ticket of another political party if Thakur is not accommodated before the December 11 programme marking four years of the Sukhu government.

The political significance of the episode lies in the fact that the Chief Minister has publicly indicated on several occasions over the past year that Thakur would be inducted into the Cabinet. However, the absence of a formal decision has fuelled speculation about differences within the Congress leadership and the lack of consensus over the proposed expansion.

The Sukhu Cabinet has one vacant position, and the Kullu MLA has been among the prominent contenders for the berth. However, the proposed exercise has reportedly become more complicated with competing claims from other senior legislators, including Palampur MLA Ashish Butail, while several existing ministers are also concerned about possible portfolio changes.

Sukhu’s recent meetings with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, party general secretary K.C. Venugopal and Himachal Congress in-charge Rajni Patil in New Delhi were seen as part of the broader consultations over the government and organisational affairs. Despite these interactions, the high command has apparently not given the final go-ahead for the proposed Cabinet changes.

The latest unrest in Kullu comes against the backdrop of the political setback suffered by the Congress two years ago, when six party legislators defected to the BJP, triggering a major crisis for the government and exposing internal divisions. Although the government survived the political challenge, discontent among sections of the party cadre and supporters of elected representatives has continued to surface over organisational appointments, political recognition and the distribution of power.

The Kullu episode is particularly sensitive because it involves a sitting legislator who has so far remained publicly aligned with the Chief Minister’s leadership. His decision to leave the next move to party workers indicates that the issue is no longer confined to an individual demand for a ministerial position but is acquiring the character of a wider cadre-level grievance.

With the 2027 Assembly elections approaching, the Congress leadership faces the challenge of balancing regional representation, seniority, ministerial performance and competing political interests. The delay in Cabinet expansion, meanwhile, risks turning a routine exercise in political accommodation into another test of the party’s internal cohesion in Himachal Pradesh.