Congress cancels meeting called to discuss names for HPCC top post

The appointment of a new president of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) will take a little longer. The Congress high command had called Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, his ministers, former party presidents and other eminent leaders to New Delhi tomorrow to discuss the potential candidates for the top post of the HPCC but the meeting was postponed following the strikes by Indian armed forces in Pakistan.

The three-year tenure of incumbent president Pratibha Singh has expired and the names of a few leaders for the post are doing the rounds. The names of a few ministers are being proposed for the post but they are reportedly not interested. At least one minister is said to have agreed to take up the responsibility on the condition that he will be allowed to continue as minister as well. Factors like regional balance and caste are also being considered to decide the next president.

“The name of the president should be declared at the earliest. Resentment among party workers and even ministers is growing, which is not good for the party,” said a senior Congress leader. With no clear name emerging for the post of the HPCC president, the reconstitution of the dissolved party body will also be delayed further.