SHIMLA:  In a major revamp to put  up a united front against the ruling BJP and new entrant  AAP in the coming state assembly elections, Congress President  Sonia Gandhi today appointed Pratibha Virbhadra Singh as new President of the Himachal Pradesh Congress committee while Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu   became  Chairman of the Campaign Committee with an immediate effect.

According to the Party High Command official release, Mandi Lok Sabha MP Pratibha Virbhadra Singh will replace Kuldeep Singh Rathour as the new PCC president with immediate effect ahead of the coming state assembly elections expected within few months time this year.

The appointment of Pratibha Virbhadra Singh along with Sukhu, Harsh Mahajan, Agnihotri, Asha Kumari. Suddhir and others  has come at a time when there were speculations that the AAP might poach into the disgruntled or ignored Congress leaders/workers  if the "internal dissensions and groupism is not resolved well in time".

The High Command has given representation to the all the ambitious leaders of the state accommodating all of  them.

High Command  has conveyed a strong message that Party values each of the leader and “it is now their responsibility and accountability that they carry forward everybody at all venues, burying all hatchets in the interest of the Congress”.

Pratibha Virbhadra Singh has emerged as the  powerful face of the Congress. She including her son and Shimla rural MLA Vikramaditya Singh, Congress leaders of Mandi Lok Sabha seat and supporters had put up the extra efforts and won the Mandi byelection, trouncing the BJP candidate Brig Kushal Singh Thakur, a Kargil war hero that had  jolted the ruling BJP at the state and Centre.

Pratibha Virbhadfra Singh rode on the sympathy factor of her husband Virbhadra Singh, the six-time Chief Minister. But she won at a time when Congress was in doldrum giving a major jolt to the BJP.

By appointing her as PCC President Congress High Command seeks to cash in on the legacy of late Virbhadra Singh in the coming elections. The four byelections that Congress won in 2021 has amply demonstrated the sentiments of the electorate.

The First test, however, for Congress whether or not party put up the united face is the Shimla municipal corporation election in May-June.  

Congress President has also approved the proposal of the appointment of office-bearers of the PCC,  Congress legislative party and the constitution of various committees of Himachal Pradesh Congress committee with an immediate effect.

The Congress high command has also appreciated the contribution made by the outgoing president Kuldeep Singh Rathore.

Sukhvinder Singh  Sukhu has been appointed as the member of the Screening Committee thereby addressing the aspiration of his supporters in the state.

After the appointment of the new PCC, the party workers have posted positive comments on social media that has come a major “Sanjivini”  and reminder for the party, saying that the party will now take on the might of the ruling BJP with full force.

The High Command has also appointed three working presidents- Harsha Mahajan, Rajinder Rana, Pawan Kajol and Vinay Kumar.

Mukesh Agnihotri will continue to be the CLP leader.  Harshvardhan Singh Chauhan, a popular leader from Shillai constituency of Sirmaur has been appointed as the deputy CLP leader while the Kinnaur MLA Jagat Singh Negi will be the chief whip in the Vidhan Sabha.

Congress high-command has also  appointed five senior vice-presidents: Ganguram Mussafir, Inderdutt Lakhanpal, Sunder Singh Thakur, Ravi Thakur and Suresh Kumar.

Dr. Rajesh Sharma has been appointed as the treasurer of the PCC. The party high command has appointed six vice-presidents they are Sanjay Awasthi, Harish Janartha, Naresh Chauhan, Maheshwar Singh, Surinder Chauhan, Mohinder Chauhan.

The party high command has constituted the Steering Committee, which will have 10-members.

They include Anand Sharma, Chairman, Asha Kumari, Convenor, Dhani Ram Shandil, Kuldeep Singh Rathour, Viplov Thakur, Kaul Singh Thakur,  Ram Lal Thakur,  Chandra Kumar,  Suresh Chandel, Harshvardhan Chauhan.

PCC President, CLP leader, Chairman Campaign Committee, will be the permanent invitees of the Steering Committee.

President has appointed three-members Manifesto Committee, Chairman, Dhani Ram Shandil,  Ashish Butail,  Vice- chairman,  Rohit Thakur,  convenor .

Chairman and Chiefs of the frontal organization and department sales and All India Congress committee secretary from Himachal Pradesh will be the special invitees to this manifesto committee .

The party high command has  also constituted the coordination committee. Congress leader Kaul Singh Thakur, Chairman, Suresh Chandel,  Vice- chairman and Prakash Chaudhari, Convener.  

The part has also constituted an Election Management Committee Ramlal Thakur, , Chairman Kuldeep Singh Pathania, vice-chairman, Anirudh Singh, Vice-Chairman,  Raghuvir  Singh Bali,  Convener.

Disciplinary committee will be headed by Viplov Thakur and Kuldeep Kumar, Publicity and Publication committee: chairman,   Sudhir Sharma and Sohan Lal Thakur, vice chairman. Media and social media will be headed by Ashray Sharma and Research committee Rajesh Dharmani and Sushil Sharma Bittu and Sub-treasure: Madam Chaudhary.