State Cong prez will be named by by first week of November: Sukhu

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today said that the party high command would name the new Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president by the end of this month or in the first week of November. The Chief Minister had rushed to New Delhi on Thursday afternoon to meet the party high command. Education Minister Rohit Thakur and AICC spokesperson Kuldeep Rathore had also gone to New Delhi, triggering speculation that the new HPCC president could be appointed shortly. The two leaders are the frontrunners for the post.

Raghubir Singh Bali, Nagrota Bagwan MLA and Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC), is also said to have joined the race for the post at the eleventh hour.

The Chief Minister, however, said that there was no need to speculate about the new HPCC president. “Once the party high command announces the name, everyone will come to know about it. The party high command will announce the name by October end or in the first week of November,” he added.

Sukhu, while speaking to mediapersons after returning from New Delhi, said that the state government would provide relief to disaster-affected people. “We are waiting for the Rs 1,500-crore financial package announced by the Chief Minister. We are waiting to see if the package comes in the form of a special grant or a relief package. Once it comes, we will start providing assistance to the disaster-affected people,” he added.

The Chief Minister said that his government would provide relief even if the financial package from the Central Government gets delayed. “All those who have been affected by the disaster, the government will help them. I’ve already issued instructions in this regard,” he added.

To questions regarding the agitation of HRTC pensioners, Sukhu said that the previous BJP government had not cleared the DA arrears of the pensioners despite having the enough resources. “We have cleared the DA arrears of the pensioners above 75 years of age and are gradually clearing the arrears of those above 70 years,” he added. “We have released Rs 10 cr for pensioners in view of Diwali,” he added.