Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu; Son of Lorry driver; is now the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh

Shimla/Himachal Pradesh: Union Home Minister Amit Shah had criticized Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu as he was not “son or daughter of anyone” and would not get the post of CM, citing the royal family of Himachal Pradesh.Himachal Pradesh has chosen Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, a milkman in Shimla who is also the son of a lorry driver, as the new Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh .

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had criticized the royal family during the election campaign that Sukhwinder Singh would not get this post (Chief Minister’s position) as he was not the son or daughter of anyone. But Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu was elected as the leader of the Legislature Party of Himachal Pradesh Congress in the meeting held in Shimla on December 10, and today (December 11) he will take oath as Chief Minister in Shimla.

Sukhwinder Sukhu (58), the son of a bus driver in Hamirpur district, an area far from the power hub, once sold milk in Shimla. Also, elected as a student leader at a college in Sanjauli near Shimla, he contested Himachal Pradesh University campus elections in the 1990s. Thus, Sukhwinder who came forward is today rising to the throne as the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.

Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma, who tweeted about Sukhwinder’s appointment as chief minister, thanked Gandhi and party president Mallikarjuna Kharge, saying, “Thanks to our leadership, it is a matter of pride to have a son from a common family become our chief minister.”Sukhwinder’s main rival was Pratibha Singh, the state Congress president, who inherited power from her late husband, former royal and six-time chief minister Virbhadra Singh.

Virbhadra Singh’s son Vikramaditya Singh is likely to occupy an important position in Sukhu’s cabinet. Another stalwart Mukesh Agnihotri also started politics as a journalist under the shadow of Virbhadra Singh. He will be the Deputy Chief Minister.Amit Shah had said during the election campaign held in Nadaun that Congress will not get majority in the election.

 But the BJP’s calculation in the state was overturned and the Congress won 40 seats out of 68 assembly constituencies and recorded a resounding victory against the BJP. Sukhu has won the election for the fourth time.There is no place for kings and queens in democracy. Amit Shah said that in a democracy you have to work for the people. He had emphasized that BJP’s Jairam Thakur, who was the chief minister of the state, had no political family heritage.

He lashed out at Sukhu citing the legacy of “Raja” Virbhadra Singh, putting Pratibha Singh in front. Sources said that people’s support was high as Sukhu’s grassroots image appealed to the people. By choosing a commoner’s son or a leader over royal heirs, the Congress has sent a message to the people of the state.During the elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was engrossed in the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

 At this time Priyanka Gandhi led the Congress party in Himachal Pradesh. Accordingly, he held 10 election rallies and played an important role in the victory. Also, the Congress’s victory in this election is due to non-Gandhi leader Mallikarjuna Kharge becoming the party chief. However, the Gandhi family members remain the “high command” in the party.