As Sukhvinder Sukhu takes oath as Himachal CM, Rahul Gandhi to be in attendance

As the Congress’s Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu takes oath as Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister on Sunday, Rahul Gandhi will be in attendance.

Gandhi – who has been leading the grand old party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra since September – will be in Shimla for the swearing-in ceremony, Jairam Ramesh said, adding that the Congress leader will be taking a brief pause to attend the oath event and return to Rajasthan in the evening. “Day 95 of the Bharat Jodo Yatra started at 6am.

After padyatra of 13 km this morning, @RahulGandhi will proceed to Shimla to join CP @kharge to attend the oath-taking ceremony of (the) new Congress government in Himachal. He will return in time for evening Padyatra to walk the remaining 9 km (sic),” his post read.

Sukhu’s name was announced on Saturday after a Congress legislative party (CLP) meeting amid much speculation. Just hours before the key discussions, the Congress leader – speaking to news agency ANI – had insisted that he was not in the race for the chief minister’s post. Later, he said – “I am thankful to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and the people of the state. Our government will bring change. It is my responsibility to fulfil the promises we made to the people of the state. We have to work for the development of the state.” Sukhu, 58, who headed the Congress campaign committee in Himachal Pradesh, is said to be the first from the lower part of the state.

Apart from Sukhu, MP Pratibha Singh and Mukesh Agnihotri were being seen as the frontrunners in the race to the CM’s post. Agnihotri is set to take oath as Sukhu’s deputy on Sunday.

The win in Himachal Pradesh for the grand old party – which has secured 40 of 68 assembly seats – is no less than a shot in the arm when it is taking intense measures to revive the connect with the masses. The Kanyakumari to Kashmir foot march is a part of the measures, which are being taken with an eye on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.