CM Sukhu hints at cabinet expansion
Shimla, Aug 9,
The political buzz in Himachal Pradesh grew louder on Thursday after Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu dropped strong hints about an impending reshuffle in his Council of Ministers and suggested that the next Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president could be chosen from within his cabinet.
“I have no objection if any of my cabinet colleagues or an SC leader is made chairman,” Sukhu remarked, amid growing chatter that ministers Anirudh Singh and Rohit Thakur are among the frontrunners. Names of Vinay Kumar and Vinod Sultanpuri from the Scheduled Caste category are also said to be in contention. Political observers see this as a possible indication that a party post and a ministerial berth could be interconnected in the upcoming changes.
The move comes as speculation over a leadership change in the state Congress unit has intensified in recent days. Insiders believe that this long-pending decision may be taken soon, although an official announcement from the AICC or Himachal in-charge Rajni Patil is still awaited.
On the governance front, Sukhu revealed that flights from Shimla’s newly constructed Sanjauli heliport to Chandigarh will commence shortly, with operational clearance already granted. Until now, helicopters from Chandigarh landed only at Jubbarhatti, located 20 km from Shimla. The new service will bring passengers directly into the city.
Addressing education-related developments, the CM announced the release of salaries for Himachal Pradesh University teachers and distributed appointment letters to 325 newly recruited drawing teachers. He also launched an online attendance system for students and teachers, calling it a “revolutionary change” that will allow real-time monitoring through a centralised dashboard.
In healthcare, Sukhu said patients requiring robotic surgery will now receive free treatment under the Him-Care scheme. The issuance of Him-Care cards will take place four times a year, with hospital medical superintendents authorised to grant them in urgent cases.
Defending the state’s decision to introduce an online lottery system, Sukhu pointed out that it is already in operation in states ruled by the BJP and CPI(M), including Madhya Pradesh, Goa, and Kerala.
Meanwhile, the CM condemned the alleged incident of BJP workers throwing shoes at the national flag, calling the act “unbefitting” and assuring strict action against those responsible.
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The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
