Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu joined politics at 17 and rose from a student leader to a councillor, an MLA and finally Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister.
Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, who used to sell milk in Chhota Shimla, on Sunday took oath as the new Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. The son of a bus driver, Sukhu entered his political career at just 17 years of age. He rose through the ranks starting out with no backing and eventually succeeded in asserting his influence in a state where the Congress’ direction has been helmed by veteran leader Virbhadra Singh for over 50 years.
Sukhu was sworn in as the new Himachal CM after Congress returned to power winning 40 seats of the 68-member Assembly in the recently concluded polls. The four-time MLA from Nadaun was picked by the Congress high command to lead the party in the state over Virbhadra Singh’s wife Pratibha Singh.
The new face of Himachal, Sukhu He gained prominence in the politics of the state, rising from a student leader to a councillor and then an MLA. 58-year-old Sukhu is a known detractor of six-time Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh. He was born in a relatively unknown village Bhavran in Nadaun in Hamirpur District.
Sukhu is considered close to Congress scion Rahul Gandhi. Sukhu was president of HP Congress for a record six years. He was the chief of Congress campaign committee for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022. The rise of Sukhu through the state Congress ranks is a story of hard work, determination and perseverance.
Sukhu pursued MA and LLB from Himachal Pradesh University and started his political career as a 17-year-old. He rose in student politics to become the general secretary and later the president of the state Congress-affiliated student body National Students' Union of India (NSUI).
Son of a Himachal Pradesh transport corporation driver who ran a milk booth in Chhota Shimla, Sukhu rose from grassroots politics to become a two-time Shimla Municipal Corporation’s councillor.
As his stature rose further, he entered the state Assembly in 2003 as a first time MLA from Nadaun. Sukhu retained Nadaun in 2007 but lost in 2012. In 2017, he regained his seat with a comeback win and again emerged victorious in 2022, at the same time leading the party to a win in the first elections in Himachal Pradesh after the death of Virbhadra Singh in July 2021.
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 "Bus driver’s son to Chief Minister: The rise and rise of Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu")
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