Vinod Sultanpuri: A Rising Contender for Himachal Congress Presidency
Emergence of a New Candidate
In a surprising turn of events, Vinod Sultanpuri, a first-time Congress MLA representing Kasauli in Solan district, has emerged as a potential candidate for the presidency of the Himachal Pradesh Congress.
Sources within the party suggest that Sultanpuri could be a dark horse in this race, as he is not closely associated with either the faction led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu or the Holly Lodge group headed by Pratibha Singh.
Current Leadership and Alternatives
The Himachal Pradesh Congress is presently led by Pratibha Singh, a former MP from Mandi, who is also seeking an extension of her term. She is the spouse of Virbhadra Singh, a six-time former Chief Minister, and the mother of PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh.
Another potential candidate for the state president position is Kuldeep Rathore, the MLA from Theog, who has previously held the role. Under his leadership, the Congress achieved unexpected victories in key bypolls in November 2021, despite the BJP being in power.
Vinod Sultanpuri's Political Journey
In the 2022 Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, Sultanpuri secured a victory over BJP's Rajiv Saizal, a former Health Minister, winning by a margin of 6,768 votes. He is from the Scheduled Caste community and is the son of the late Krishna Dutt Sultanpuri, a six-term MP.
His political experience includes serving as the Solan district president of the Indian Youth Congress from 2006 to 2008, national secretary from 2009 to 2011, and general secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee from 2012 to 2019.
However, he faced a setback in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, losing to BJP's Suresh Kashyap by a significant margin of 91,451 votes.
Potential Consensus Candidate
Pratibha Singh is also vying for an extension as the party president. Although Kuldeep Rathore and Cabinet Minister Anirudh Singh have been mentioned as possible candidates, their chances are slim due to their affiliation with Shimla district, which already has three ministers.
This situation may lead both the Sukhu and Holly Lodge factions to support Sultanpuri's candidacy. Notably, Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge also belongs to the Scheduled Caste category.
Despite holding power in the state, the Congress has been operating without a formal state-level organization for nearly six months, following the dissolution of the entire executive structure on November 6, 2024.
Challenges Ahead for Congress
The lack of a structured organization has hindered grassroots activities, leaving party offices largely inactive and demoralizing local workers. The silence at the Shimla Congress headquarters reflects the party's organizational stagnation.
With local elections for panchayati raj and urban bodies approaching at the end of 2025, the Congress's delay in revitalizing its organization could have significant political repercussions. Meanwhile, the BJP has already begun its preparations, potentially giving it an advantage.
Political analysts warn that unless the Congress leadership addresses internal conflicts and revitalizes its organizational framework promptly, it risks losing momentum as local elections draw near.