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The meeting of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the Congress Party regarding the expansion of the cabinet of Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu in Himachal Pradesh has been postponed. This meeting was to be held on 16th and 17th July in Dharamshala under the chairmanship of Congress Organization General Secretary KC Venugopal, but KC Venugopal will not come to Himachal at present. According to sources, KC Venugopal had to cancel his Himachal tour due to the ongoing factionalism in Punjab Congress. He is holding a meeting with Punjab Congress leaders in Delhi today. Due to this, cabinet expansion has once again got stuck in Himachal Pradesh.

There has been a discussion going on for a long time regarding the expansion of Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu cabinet. There is one and a half years left for the assembly elections, hence the party has less time left. Along with expansion in the cabinet, the Congress party will also discuss about appointments in boards and corporations, so that senior leaders can be adjusted.

When will the cabinet expansion take place?

According to sources, the expansion of the cabinet of Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu in Himachal Pradesh is certain to happen before the monsoon session of the Assembly. However, KC Venugopal is busy with Punjab affairs and no new date has been announced yet for his Himachal tour. Therefore now cabinet expansion may take place a few weeks ahead. The Political Affairs Committee meeting may be held in the next few weeks, after which the cabinet will be expanded.

When will KC Venugopal come?

Assembly elections may be held in Himachal Pradesh at the end of next year. In such a situation, the party wants to woo all the leaders in this cabinet expansion and wants to woo regional equations. This cabinet expansion is considered very important because with this team Congress can enter the electoral fray. There will be a meeting of the Political Affairs Committee to discuss this in detail which will be chaired by KC Venugopal. According to sources, after ending the ongoing discord in Punjab Congress, KC Venugopal will go to Himachal Pradesh and preside over the PAC meeting.

Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu can also go to meet the Delhi Congress high command. According to sources, Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu may go to Delhi on 18 or 19 July. Here he may meet Sonia Gandhi. After this, cabinet expansion in Himachal can be approved.

What changes will there be in the cabinet?

There can be a total of 12 ministers including the CM in the cabinet of Himachal Pradesh. At present there are a total of 11 ministers including the CM, that is, 1 ministerial post is still vacant. According to sources, keeping in mind the regional equations, it is certain that an MLA from Kullu will become a minister. It is almost certain that Kullu Sadar MLA Sunder Singh Thakur will become a minister because CM Sukhu himself has indicated about this.

There are 15 assembly seats in Kangra district and currently there is only one minister from this district. In such a situation, it is considered certain that an MLA from this district will be made a minister and many names are running in the race. Apart from this, there is also talk of removal of a minister and the post of Deputy Speaker is also vacant. Along with all these appointments, there will also be coronation in the boards and corporations and all these appointments will be discussed in the PAC meeting.