Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was sworn in as Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister in December 2022.
He is a four-time Member of the Legislative Assembly from Nadaun in the Hamirpur district. Nadaun is a segment of Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat, represented by current Union minister Anurag Thakur since 2004. Thakur is the son of former Himachal CM Prem Kumar Dhumal.
A lawyer by education, Sukhu was elected as the state president of the Congress party's student arm National Student Union of India in 1989.
He served as State Youth Congress General Secretary from 1995 to 1998 and later its president from 1998 to 2008.
He was first elected to the state assembly in 2003 and was re-elected in 2007. He was chief whip of Congress in the state assembly from 2007 to 2012.
Sukhu's rise to power surprised many in a state where nepotism has often reigned supreme.
Congress party's high command in New Delhi chose Sukhu over the son and wife of late leader Virbhadra Singh. This stoked disenchantment among Congress MLAs deemed close to Vikramaditya Singh and Pratibha Singh, Virbhadra Singh's son and wife.
Vikramaditya was given the Public Works Department portfolio in the Sukhu cabinet.
Pressure is mounting on CM Sukhu to step down to claim the support of 'defected' Congress MLAs after the Feb 27 Rajya Sabha election loss.