Shimla, June 9
After losing all four Lok Sabha seats, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu who is already under scrutiny for his decision to grant cabinet ranks to leaders from Shimla district has added another to the list. Kehar Singh Khachi, a close associate of the Gandhi family and caretaker of Priyanka Gandhi’s bungalow in Khachi Chharabra, has been appointed as Vice President of the Himachal Pradesh Forest Development Corporation, given cabinet rank.
Despite the state government’s claims of economic hardship the move may widen the rift and intensify internal factionalism within the Congress party. Political anlysts beleive that the appointment, formalized by Principal Secretary Amandeep Garg’s notification, may raise eyebrows regarding the concentration of political favor within Shimla.
Historically, at least two dozen individuals from Shimla, including Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPS), have been awarded cabinet minister or cabinet rank positions. This concentration of power in one district, particularly one that has not delivered electoral success, has caused unrest among other Congress leaders. Critics argue that distributing important posts should reflect broader geographic representation to avoid regional favoritism and ensure political stability.
The recent Lok Sabha elections saw Congress face a significant defeat in Himachal Pradesh, exacerbating the rift within the party. HPCC President Pratibha Singh and her son Vikramaditya Singh have openly criticized Sukhu’s leadership following Vikramaditya’s loss to Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut by over 74,000 votes. Despite Congress’s strongholds in Manali and Kullu, Vikramaditya failed to secure a lead, fueling allegations that Sukhu’s loyalists did not fully support his campaign in the Mandi parliamentary election.
The infighting has roots in a failed coup to topple Sukhu’s government earlier this year, leaving the Chief Minister in a precarious position within his party. The recent electoral failure has further weakened his mandate, as factionalism and lack of unity within the Congress party in Himachal Pradesh have come to the fore. While Congress made significant gains in other North Indian states, their defeat in Himachal Pradesh highlights the damaging effects of internal discord.
Chief Minister Sukhu’s current efforts to regain legitimacy through cabinet appointments are viewed by some as politically unwise, especially given the lack of popular support for many appointees. A congress party leaders stated that as the party grapples with its internal divisions and attempts to recover from electoral setbacks, the effectiveness and future of Sukhu’s leadership remain uncertain.
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