Sukhwinder Sukhu takes oath as Himachal CM in presence of Rahul, Priyanka

Shimla: Senior Congress leader Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, 58, was sworn in as the 15th Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister at the historic Ridge maidan on Sunday with both Rahul and Prayanka Gandhi present at the ceremony.

Rahul Gandhi took a day’s break from his ‘Bharat Jodo yatra,’ to arrive in Shimla.

Mukesh Agnihotri, the leader of the opposition in the outgoing Assembly, also took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister.

Among the highlights was the presence of Sukhu’s mother –Sankar Devi, 86, who travelled all the way from her village in Nadaun constituency of Hamirpur to bless him on the occasion. Sukhu touched her foot after taking the oath of office.

Other prominent leaders of the Congress who headed for the Ridge to show-up at the event including Chhattisgarh Chief Bhupesh Baghel—who played a key role in the elections, Haryana former Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda, AICC incharge Rajeev Shukla and Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin pilot.

All 40 elected MLAs and state Congress leaders including PCC president Pratibha Singh were also seen on the dais.

Earlier to this Sukhu drove to Holly-Lodge– thebresidence of Virbhadra Singh and met PCC president Pratibha Singh .

On Saturday, Sukhu alongwith other Congress leaders and AICC observers had also paid a visit to former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur at the official residence of the Chief Minister–Oak Over.

Much before the official event, the Ridge looked jam-packed with hundreds of Congress supporters, those belonging to  Sukhu’s own constituency, reaching to attend the event. There was heavy deployment of the police force to maintain order as the crowd swelled at the venue raising slogans in favour of Sukhu.

Before the ceremony, all elected MLAs and Congress leaders paid floral tributes to Virbhadra Singh remembering his contributions to the development of the state.

His wife Pratibha Singh, who had also staked her claim for the CM’s post, had reminded the party high command about elections having been fought in the name of six-time Chief Minister and thus his political legacy must not to be ignored.

But, the high command chose to pick Sukhu—a four time MLA , a grass-root partyman and former PCC president because he had support of a maximum number of MLAs.

Agnihotri was another contender for the top post but when Congress party observers deputed by the high command tried to reach a consensus, Agnihotri lost the race apparently because Pratibha Singh had favoured her MLA son Vikramadity Singh for the Deputy CM’s post—a demand not accepted by the party.

Insiders say hectic lobbying continued even during the late night to see inclusion of Vikramditya Singh as second Deputy Chief Minister. However, because of opposition by senior MLAs, the proposal did not get a favour of the party.

Earlier in the day, Sukhu said that he was happy that despite being from an ordinary family he was elected as leader to lead the new government formed after the Congress had won 40 seats in the 68 -member House.

Talking to the media later Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said, “We will deliver on our promises to the public in the first Cabinet meeting. The Old Pension Scheme will be restored. It’s a matter of pride that the people of the state have chosen the Congress –a party which will see its revival from Himachal Pardesh.Today we have stopped BJP’s ‘rath’,”