Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu Archives - Lokmarg

Govt Committed To Providing Transparent, Responsive, Accountable Administration: Sukhu

By LokMarg 3rd January 2023

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday said that the state government is committed to providing a transparent, responsive, and accountable administration to the people of the state.

While addressing a huge rally ‘Jan Aabhar Rally’ organized at Zorawar Stadium in Dharamshala, CM Sukhu expressed gratitude to the people of Kangra district for their massive mandate in favour of the Congress Party in the recently held assembly elections.
Incidentally, this is the first visit of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to the district after becoming the Chief Minister of the State.

The Chief Minister said that the present State Government was here not to enjoy power, but for bringing a change in the system.

He said that after being sworn in as Chief Minister of the State, he visited the Girl Child Care Institute, Tutikandi in Shimla, and felt that a lot more is required to be done for the destitute children, women, and senior citizens.

“We have decided to set up ‘Chief Minister’s Sukhashray Sahayata Kosh’ with an outlay of Rs 101 crore so that it can meet the basic educational facilities of the children and destitute women,” he added.

He also attacked the BJP government and said that it opened 900 institutions in different parts of the state without any budgetary provisions

“This was simply done to lure the people and with an eye on assembly elections, haphazard announcements were made. The present State Government cracked a big paper scam going on since the tenure of the BJP Government in the Himachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission, Hamirpur, which had become a den of selling question papers,” he said.

CM Sukhu said that the State Government would implement all the ten guarantees as promised in the congress manifesto during assembly elections in a phased manner,

“The Government will implement Old Pension Scheme (OPS) in its first cabinet. Besides, a decision to provide Rs. 1500 to the women in the age group of 18 to 60 years would also be taken soon,” he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, while addressing the audience took a jibe at BJP leaders and remarked that it seems that these leaders were finding it difficult to digest, and defeat and thus were issuing baseless statements.

“The State Government in the last about 21 days of its tenure has taken some historic decisions. Rs 101 crore ‘Chief Minister Sukhashray Sahayata Kosh’ has been established to ensure that lesser privileged children can get adequate financial assistance for higher education as per their choice,” he said.

Member of Parliament and State Congress President, Pratibha Singh thanked the people of the state for their wholehearted support in the assembly elections.

“It was due to the support and love of the people that the Congress Party was able to form the Government in the State, she said. The party organization and the State Government would work with complete unison to ensure that the pace of development gets added vigour so that Himachal can emerge as a model State in the matter of development,” she said. (ANI)

Sukhu Took Oath As The 15th CM Of Himachal

By LokMarg 11th December 2022

Congress leader Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, who climbed the political ladder up from the grassroots level in Himachal Pradesh, took oath as the 15th Chief Minister of the hill state at a ceremony in Shimla on Sunday.

The oath-taking ceremony took place at 1.30 pm on Sunday at Raj Bhavan, Shimla.
A loyalist of the Gandhi family, Sukhu is a four-time MLA (58) and former chief of Congress in the state.

Sukhu is known as an affable and approachable leader who has a vast network in the hill state due to his long years in the organization. He also holds a broad organizational experience in the state owing to his connection with the grand old party for many years.

He was the party’s state unit president from 2013 to 2019 and spoke his mind even if it was not to the liking of the party’s tallest leader Virbhadra Singh, a six-time Chief Minister.

Sukhu has been in favor of promoting and grooming younger Congress leaders in Himachal Pradesh.

With Congress chief ministers over the past four decades coming from Rampur Bushahr, Congress central leadership was apparently keen to expand its choice.

Sukhu will be the first Congress leader from “lower Himachal” to come to the top post.

Sukhu belongs to a middle-class family. He was active in politics from his student days and fought elections as an NSUI candidate. He was president of NSUI and the Indian Youth Congress in the state. He fought and won elections for Shimla Municipal Corporation. Sukhu won the assembly election for the first time in 2003 from Nadaun.

Sukhu was chairman of the Congress Campaign Committee for the assembly elections in which the party focused on local issues and made lucrative promises including an old age pension scheme.

He will be the second chief minister from Hamirpur district after BJP’s Prem Kumar Dhumal.

Congress won the Assembly polls in the state, winning 40 seats. (ANI)

Cong Fights Unitedly: Kharge On Victory In Himachal

By LokMarg 11th December 2022

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday arrived in Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Chief Minister-designate Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu.

Sukhu received the Congress president and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot at Sanjauli helipad.
Kharge, on the occasion, said that the party’s victory in the state Assembly polls is an example of what happens when the party fights unitedly.

“This is a victory that belongs to the people of Himachal Pradesh. This is an example of what emerges when the Congress party fights unitedly,” he told ANI.

Ashok Gehlot said that the victory of the party in the state was a new beginning for Congress and the people of the state.

“This is a new beginning for Congress as well as the people of Himachal Pradesh. Rahul Gandhi’s yatra against inflation, and unemployment, will become stronger from Himachal,” he said.

Sachin Pilot, who also arrived here, confided that Sukhu will be able to deliver the promises made during the campaign.

“I believe that Sukhu will be able to deliver all the promises given by Cong. The people of Himachal Pradesh always supported Congress. We all will work together for the development of the state,” he said.

Himachal Pradesh CM designate Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu met State Congress Chief Pratibha Virbhadra Singh at her residence.

Following the meeting, Pratibha said that it is her “prime duty” to take part in the oath-taking ceremony which will take place today afternoon.

“Why won’t I attend his oath-taking ceremony? Of course, I will go. It is my prime duty to be there with him as he takes oath as CM today,” she said.

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

The oath-taking ceremony will take place at 1.30 pm on Sunday, Raj Bhavan sources told ANI.

After being chosen as the Chief Minister, the Congress leader said that he is thankful to the Congress and Gandhi family for giving him this opportunity.

Sukhu said that he is happy that despite being from an ordinary family he is going to be the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.

“I am happy that I am going to be CM despite being from an ordinary family. I am thankful to the Congress party and the Gandhi family for giving me this opportunity. My mother never stopped me from being in politics. I have reached here today because of her blessings,” said Sukhu.

Sukhu is a grassroots politician who has risen from the ranks and has wide organisational experience in the hill state.

Sukhu was chairman of the Congress Campaign Committee for the assembly elections in which the party focused on local issues and made lucrative promises including an old pension scheme.

He will be the second chief minister from Hamirpur district after BJP’s Prem Kumar Dhumal.

Congress won the Assembly polls in the state, winning 40 seats. (ANI)

Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu To Take Oath As Himachal’s CM

By LokMarg 10th December 2022

Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu was on Saturday chosen as leader of the Congress Legislature Party in Himachal Pradesh paving way for his elevation as the new Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.

The newly-elected MLAs had on Friday adopted a resolution authorizing the party high command to select the leader of the legislature party. A meeting of party MLAs was held here in the evening.
Congress leadership had earlier in the day sounded that Sukhu will be the new chief minister after which supporters of state Congress chief Pratibha Singh had raised slogans demanding that she should be made the Chief Minister.

Himachal Pradesh Congress in-charge Rajeev Shukla, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and Himachal observer Bhupesh Baghel, Himachal Pradesh Congress Chief Pratibha Virbhadra Singh, and several other Congress leaders were in Shimla to oversee the election of the new leader.

Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel said that the high command has chosen Sukhu as leader of the legislature party and Mukesh Agnihotri will be Deputy Chief Minister.

“Oath ceremony will take place tomorrow at 11 am,” he said.

Sukhu, 58, lauded Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi after his election and said the party will fulfill its poll promises.

He said the new government will “bring change”.

“I am thankful to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and the people of the state. Our government will bring change. It is my responsibility to fulfill the promises we made to the people of Himachal Pradesh. We have to work for the development of the state,” he said.

Sukhu said he and Mukesh Agnihotri, who will be made Deputy Chief Minister, will work as a team.

“Deputy CM designate Mukesh Agnihotri and I will work as a team. I started my political career at the age of 17 years. I will never be able to forget what the Congress party has done for me,” he said.

Congress won the assembly polls in the state and got 40 seats. (ANI)