SHIMLA: Congress leader Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu took oath as the new CM of Himachal Pradesh in the prescence of the Gandhi family and party President Mallikarjun Kharge in Shimla. Mukesh Agnihotri was sworn in as the Deputy CM of the state.
Sukhu is the first chief minister of Congress from lower Himachal and the 15th CM of the state.
Sukhwinder Singh was chosen by the Congress high command for the top post amidst tough battle between Pratibha Singh, Congress MP and the wife of former Chief Minister and Congress veteran, the late Virbhadra Singh.
Sukhu is an MLA from Nadaun in the hill state’s Hamirpur district, headed the Congress’ campaign committee for the recently held state polls. He began his career in student politics and went on to rise to the position of state unit chief. Soon after the annoucement, Sukhu promised a clean and honest government. He said it was his responsibility to fulfil the promises made by the party to the people. “We wanted to secure power not merely to be in power. We want to change the system. Give me some time. We need to work hard, struggle to bring in a new system and new thinking,” he said.