Congress high command on Saturday appointed Vinay Kumar as the new Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee president, ending over a year of organizational uncertainty and marking the first time in two decades that a Scheduled Caste leader has been given the top post.
National Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge issued orders appointing the 47-year-old Renuka MLA, with party general secretary KC Venugopal sharing the information. Earlier on Saturday, Vinay Kumar resigned from the post of Assembly Deputy Speaker, which was accepted by Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania.
Vinay Kumar represents the reserved Renuka assembly seat in Sirmaur district, which falls under the Shimla parliamentary constituency. His appointment comes ahead of crucial panchayati raj institutions and urban local body elections, and is seen as a strategic move by the Congress to consolidate its Scheduled Caste vote bank ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. After Rajputs, the SC community forms the largest demographic group in the state.
Breaking 20-year pattern
The appointment breaks a pattern of six consecutive Rajput leaders serving as state Congress presidents. Viplav Thakur was followed by Kaul Singh Thakur, Virbhadra Singh, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Kuldeep Singh Rathore, and Pratibha Singh—all Rajput leaders. Prior to Viplav Thakur, Kuldeep Kumar from the Scheduled Caste community served as president from November 24, 2004 to July 25, 2005, though no assembly elections were held under his leadership.
Political observers suggest the Congress plans to contest the next assembly elections under an SC president’s leadership, making Vinay Kumar’s appointment particularly significant.
Regional balance achieved
The appointment also addresses regional balance. With Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri both from Hamirpur parliamentary constituency, Assembly Speaker from Kangra region, and former president Pratibha Singh representing Mandi, the selection of Vinay Kumar from Shimla region balances geographical representation.
Notably, both BJP and Congress state presidents now hail from Sirmaur district.
CM’s advocacy and consensus candidate
Chief Minister Sukhu had advocated before the high command for appointing an SC leader as president. Vinay Kumar enjoys good relations with both Sukhu and Agnihotri, with Deputy CM taking particular interest in his appointment while the CM also consented to his name. Known for his simple nature and closeness to the “Holy Lodge” faction, Vinay Kumar faced no opposition from rival camps, though Kuldeep Rathore was also among Holy Lodge’s preferred choices.
Vinay Kumar is considered close to national president Kharge, having regularly met him in New Delhi. Chief Minister Sukhu has congratulated him on the appointment.
Political legacy and priorities
Born in 1978, Vinay Kumar is the son of late Dr. Prem Singh, who represented Renuka six times in the assembly and was considered a staunch and honest Congress soldier, once close to Virbhadra Singh. After Prem Singh’s death on September 23, 2011, Vinay Kumar received the Congress ticket from Renuka.
“I have fully benefited from the political legacy inherited from my father,” Vinay Kumar said, expressing gratitude to the high command. “I will fulfill the responsibility entrusted by the national leadership. Strengthening the party organization will be my first priority.”
One-year organizational vacuum filled
The Himachal Congress organization had been functioning without a regular president for over a year. Pratibha Singh’s three-year term as state president ended in November last year, after which she was appointed acting president. The high command had been deliberating the regular appointment for an extended period.
Besides Vinay Kumar, four other leaders from Shimla parliamentary constituency were considered contenders: Education Minister Rohit Thakur, former state president and current national spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Rathore, Kasauli MLA Vinod Sultanpuri, and Arki MLA Sanjay Awasthi.
With Vinay Kumar’s resignation as Deputy Speaker, speculation is rife that the vacant post may go to a leader from Mandi or Kangra districts. The winter session of the assembly begins November 26 at Tapovan in Dharamshala, with the Deputy Speaker appointment likely before the session commences.
