Congress May Release Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhu From Election Campaigns In Poll-Bound States On Health Ground

The Congress high command may release Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu from the poll campaign in the five states in view of his ailing health. The chief minister was rushed to AIIMS, New Delhi after he developed sudden abdominal pain and lung complications. He was admitted to the ICU on October 27 and his condition has significantly improved during the past three days.

Although no official medical bulletin has been issued, so far, sources in Congress said that Sukhu may remain admitted for the next three to four days and thereafter could be advised complete rest.

A senior cabinet minister and CM’s aide, who met Sukhu, and also interacted with family members, including his wife Kamlesh Kumari, informs that the chief minister has shown signs of notable improvements in his health. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has visited the hospital but the doctors had advised the family not to encourage visitors. 

Nevertheless, the Congress high command is learnt to have conveyed to Sukhu that he should not exert himself and rather focus on his ailments and recovery.

Earlier Sukhu was made party’s in-charge for Telangana and star campaigner for some of the other states along with several senior party leaders including AICC in-charge for Himachal Pradesh Rajiv Shukla.

“There will certainly be changes in the chief minister’s engagements keeping in view the fact that he was not keeping well. Once discharged from the AIIMS, the chief minister will start gradually discharging his functions back home but going for the whirlwind Congress campaign in Telangana looks a remote possibility,” says Naresh Chauhan, CM’s Principal advisor (media).

There are chances of some cabinet ministers and MLAs besides PCC president Pratibha Singh being deputed in the party campaign in Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Telangana.

However, party leaders believe that the impact which Sukhu’s presence in the campaign could have made will be missing.

Sometime earlier, Sukhu was also invited by Rahul Gandhi to Telangana for the party rally wherein he was projected as an OPS (Old Pension Scheme) man. Sukhu had also campaigned in the Karnataka polls and later also went for the swearing-in ceremony of the Chief Minister.

Though it’s not yet sure as to how the Old Pension Scheme promise of the Congress will work in the poll-bound states Himachal Pradesh assembly elections favoured the Congress return to power due to its promise to implement OPS—a guarantee made in the polls and delivered after the cabinet was formed.

Sukhu, till his becoming the chief minister, was not much known in states like Karnataka and Telangana. Yet, he had attracted the voter's attention due to OPS and promise to give Rs 1,500 per month to the women even as the BJP alleges that the Congress has not fulfilled its guarantees and rather lied to the voters.

The fact remains that Sukhu enjoys close ties with the Gandhis.

Meanwhile, Sukhu has directed all his cabinet members to focus on their duties and also tasks, if any assigned by the party leadership, and don't make a beeline to Delhi simply to meet him.