Sukhvinder Singh ‘Sukhu’ was sworn in the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh while Mukesh Agnihotri took oath as Deputy Chief Minister of the state.
The oath of office and secrecy was administered by HP Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to the CM and Deputy CM in a ceremony organized at the Ridge Shimla on Sunday. Both of them took oath in Hindi.
National president of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge, former president Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretary Priynka Gandhi, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, Rajesthan CM Ashok Gehlot, former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Congress in-charge of the state Rajiv Shukla, former Union Ministers Anand Sharma, Pawan Bansal and Congress leader Mukul Wasnik among others graced the oath taking ceremony.
Himachal Congress president Pratibha Singh and all senior Congress leaders, MLAs and family members of the CM and Deputy CM were also present on the occasion. A large crowd had also gathered on the Ridge to witness the oath ceremony.
Born on March 27, 1964 in Bhavran village of Nadaun tehsil of Hamipur district is the 4th time MLA from Nadaun constituency Sukhvinder Singh ‘Sukhu’ remained active in student politics in Government College Shimla and later in Himachal Pradesh University. A Law graduate, he remained state president of NSUI, Youth Congress and later HPCC president. He was also chairman of Congress campaign committee during the recent Assembly election.
He was elected twice as Shimla Municipal Corporation and was elected MLA from Naduan in 2003, 2007, 2012 and has been elected in the recent Assembly election.
The Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri was born in Gondpur village of Haroli tehsil in Una district on October 9, 1962. He obtained masters degree in Mathematics and Journalism and was an active journalist before joining politics.
He was elected MLA in 2003 and has won five consecutive elections from Haroli constituency. He also remained Chief Parliamentary Secretary and Urban Development Minister. He was leaders of opposition in outgoing Vidhna Sabha.