Political Speculation Arises from Himachal Deputy CM's Cryptic Social Media Post

Political Tensions in Himachal Pradesh

Shimla: A mysterious social media update from Mukesh Agnihotri, the Deputy Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, on Saturday afternoon (May 3, 2025), stating “Saajishon ka daur… jhoot ke paavn nahin hote” (An era of conspiracies… lies can’t last long), has ignited speculation and stirred the political landscape in the state.

This post comes at a crucial time as Agnihotri is in New Delhi with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Pradesh Congress Committee president Pratibha Singh, and other senior party officials.

The Himachal leadership participated in a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Friday, aimed at strategizing following the recent terror incident in Pahalgam. Another significant topic was the Enforcement Directorate's summons to former Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi regarding the National Herald money laundering case.

Internal Divisions in Himachal Congress

The post has intensified the existing factionalism within the party. The Himachal Congress is notably divided, with prominent factions led by Chief Minister Sukhu and Pratibha Singh, the widow of the late six-term Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

Agnihotri, along with Theog MLA and former state Congress president Kuldeep Rathore, wields considerable influence but has not recently aligned firmly with either the Sukhu or Holly Lodge (Pratibha Singh) factions.

While the official agenda of the CWC focused on the nationwide “Save the Constitution” campaign, insiders indicate that the long-overdue restructuring of the Himachal Pradesh Congress unit was also a topic of discussion.

For nearly six months, the Himachal Congress has lacked district and block-level leadership, which has hindered grassroots operations and increased internal dissatisfaction.

Prominent party members, including Cabinet Minister Chander Kumar, have openly criticized the state unit’s inactivity, labeling it as “paralysed” and lacking direction.

Potential Cabinet Changes Ahead

Agnihotri’s post is perceived in political circles as a subtle hint amid ongoing discussions regarding the future leadership of the Himachal Congress.

With one ministerial position still unfilled, there is rising speculation about an upcoming cabinet expansion or reshuffle. Conversations with the party leadership in Delhi are anticipated to impact both organizational and ministerial appointments.

A journalist-turned-politician, Agnihotri represents Haroli in Una district and was a close associate of the late Virbhadra Singh, having served as Leader of the Opposition during the previous BJP administration.

After the Congress's victory in 2022, Agnihotri was seen as a strong candidate for the Chief Minister role but ultimately lost to Sukhu and was appointed Deputy CM, reportedly due to insufficient backing from the Holly Lodge faction.

Sunil Chadha