All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge has appointed Nigam Bhandari as president of the District Congress Committee (DCC) for Kinnaur and Hari Krishan Himral as president of the DCC for Shimla Rural, according to a party announcement on June 24, 2026.
Appointments fill long-pending vacancies
While the party high command had appointed presidents for all other district committees in Himachal Pradesh several months ago, decisions regarding the Kinnaur and Shimla Rural committees had remained pending. The latest appointments complete the process of constituting district-level Congress leadership in the state.
The appointments were made by Kharge under his authority as AICC president, with the party stating that both Bhandari and Himral have been entrusted with strengthening the party organization at the grassroots level in their respective districts.
District-level leadership now fully constituted
With these two appointments, all district Congress committees in Himachal Pradesh now have designated presidents. This move is seen as part of the party's efforts to streamline its organizational structure ahead of upcoming local body elections and to ensure effective coordination with the state government.
Kinnaur district, located in the remote tribal region of Himachal Pradesh, and Shimla Rural, which covers the rural areas surrounding the state capital, were the last two districts without a permanent DCC president. The delay in appointments had led to speculation about factional differences within the state unit, but the party has not commented on the reasons for the delay.
Reactions from state leaders
Himachal Pradesh Congress in-charge and senior leaders have welcomed the appointments, expressing confidence that Bhandari and Himral will work diligently to strengthen the party's base. State Congress president Pratibha Singh congratulated both appointees and urged them to focus on organizational expansion and connecting with voters.
Nigam Bhandari, a seasoned party worker from Kinnaur, has been active in tribal welfare and development issues. Hari Krishan Himral, from the Shimla Rural area, has previously held various positions in the party's district unit and is known for his grassroots connect.
