Virbhadra Singh

Himachal Pradesh's newly elected Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday allotted portfolios to the ministers, including giving the charge of the public works, youth and sports departments to former Chief Minister's son Vikramaditya Singh.

The Himachal Pradesh cabinet headed by Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was expanded on Sunday with the induction of seven ministers, taking the total strength to nine.

While working as a journalist in Delhi, Mukesh Agnihotri got close to the top Congress leadership, and eventually became a confidante of late Virbhadra Singh, six time Chief Minister of the state, who brought him into politics.

A product of student politics, senior Congress leader and four-time MLA Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was a known detractor of party veteran Virbhadra Singh who had dominated the Himachal Pradesh politics for over five decades until his demise last year.

After nearly four decades of his loyalty for the Congress, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has been chosen as Himachal's Chief Minister, though rivals will get significant positions for balance.

Hours before the Congress's big meeting to decide on its Chief Minister for Himachal Pradesh, a state it won yesterday, a top leader staked her claim to the job with a sharp reminder for the leadership in Delhi.

Himachal Pradesh Congress chief Pratibha Singh, the wife of former chief minister Virbhadra Singh, and her son Vikramaditya Singh have congratulated party workers after defeating the BJP in the assembly election.

Himachal elections: Besides Pratibha Singh, Sukhvinder Sukhu and Mukesh Agnihotri are in race for top post amid Congress factionalism

Congress has managed to return to power in Himachal Pradesh, though the vote-share difference is not as large as it would have targeted. The BJP fell short despite a resource-driven fight to buck the trend in the hill state.

After an early lead for the ruling BJP, the Congress is nearing majority in Himachal Pradesh. Stakes are higher for the Congress as its chances in Gujarat are dim. The BJP is fighting the tradition of the state changing its government every election.

Congress MLA Vikramaditya Singh, son of former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, on Friday said the party will work on taking his father's development model forward in the state if voted to power.

Congress MLA and son of former chief minister Virbhadra Singh, Vikramaditya Singh said that the BJP will face defeat in the assembly election like they did in the last bypoll. "That was semi-finals, this is the final now," he said.

Himachal Pradesh saw a little over 75 per cent voter turnout in the assembly polls held Saturday. This was a notch higher than 2017. Final numbers will be known after the postal ballot data is in. Votes will be counted on December 8.

Pinning his hopes on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP's star campaigner, Jai Ram Thakur said no rebel will have any effect before him

Thakur Singh Bharmouri was the Forest Minister in the Virbhadra Singh-led Congress government in the state between 2012 and 2017. 

Himachal Pradesh's newly elected Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday allotted portfolios to the ministers, including giving the charge of the public works, youth and sports departments to former Chief Minister's son Vikramaditya Singh.

The Himachal Pradesh cabinet headed by Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was expanded on Sunday with the induction of seven ministers, taking the total strength to nine.

While working as a journalist in Delhi, Mukesh Agnihotri got close to the top Congress leadership, and eventually became a confidante of late Virbhadra Singh, six time Chief Minister of the state, who brought him into politics.

A product of student politics, senior Congress leader and four-time MLA Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was a known detractor of party veteran Virbhadra Singh who had dominated the Himachal Pradesh politics for over five decades until his demise last year.

After nearly four decades of his loyalty for the Congress, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has been chosen as Himachal's Chief Minister, though rivals will get significant positions for balance.

Hours before the Congress's big meeting to decide on its Chief Minister for Himachal Pradesh, a state it won yesterday, a top leader staked her claim to the job with a sharp reminder for the leadership in Delhi.

Himachal Pradesh Congress chief Pratibha Singh, the wife of former chief minister Virbhadra Singh, and her son Vikramaditya Singh have congratulated party workers after defeating the BJP in the assembly election.

Himachal elections: Besides Pratibha Singh, Sukhvinder Sukhu and Mukesh Agnihotri are in race for top post amid Congress factionalism

Congress has managed to return to power in Himachal Pradesh, though the vote-share difference is not as large as it would have targeted. The BJP fell short despite a resource-driven fight to buck the trend in the hill state.

After an early lead for the ruling BJP, the Congress is nearing majority in Himachal Pradesh. Stakes are higher for the Congress as its chances in Gujarat are dim. The BJP is fighting the tradition of the state changing its government every election.

Congress MLA Vikramaditya Singh, son of former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, on Friday said the party will work on taking his father's development model forward in the state if voted to power.

Congress MLA and son of former chief minister Virbhadra Singh, Vikramaditya Singh said that the BJP will face defeat in the assembly election like they did in the last bypoll. "That was semi-finals, this is the final now," he said.

Himachal Pradesh saw a little over 75 per cent voter turnout in the assembly polls held Saturday. This was a notch higher than 2017. Final numbers will be known after the postal ballot data is in. Votes will be counted on December 8.

Pinning his hopes on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP's star campaigner, Jai Ram Thakur said no rebel will have any effect before him

Thakur Singh Bharmouri was the Forest Minister in the Virbhadra Singh-led Congress government in the state between 2012 and 2017.