Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge announced the dissolution of the entire Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) unit in Himachal Pradesh, along with the district and block units, with immediate effect. This move is seen as a step towards restructuring the state unit of the party.

Aiming for Restructuring Amidst Factionalism

The Himachal Pradesh Congress has struggled with internal factionalism, particularly evident during the Rajya Sabha elections in February. During this election, Congress nominee Abhishek Singhvi lost to BJP’s Harsh Mahajan, after some Congress MLAs defected and cross-voted, indicating deep divisions within the party.

Changes in Leadership

Pratibha Singh, the outgoing president of Himachal Pradesh Congress, had already been appointed as a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party’s highest decision-making body. Singh, who is the wife of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, had assumed leadership of the state Congress in 2022.

An official communication from AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal confirmed the dissolution, stating, “Congress president has approved the proposal to dissolve the entire state unit of the PCC, district presidents, and Block Congress Committees of Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee, with immediate effect.” This restructuring signals Congress’ efforts to address internal challenges and strengthen its presence in the state.