Shimla/IBNS: Sukhvinder Sukhu, a four-time MLA, who headed the Congress party's campaign committee in Himachal Pradesh, will be the next chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, media reports said.

Sukhu, who won the Nadaun assembly seat in Hamirpur district, is likely to take the oath tomorrow.

Mukesh Agnihotri will be Sukhu's deputy.

He started as an activist at Himachal Pradesh University in Shimla and headed the National Students' Union of India's state unit in the late 1980s.

He is a former president of the Himachal Pradesh Congress.

The reports said he did not have a smooth working relationship with former Congress Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who passed away in July.

Virbhadra Singh’s wife Pratibha Singh and the Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing assembly Mukesh Agnihotri—were the frontrunners in the race for chief ministership.

In her claim, Pratibha Singh had asserted that side-lining her family in the state would be disastrous for Congress as the elections were fought and won in the name of her husband—Virbhadra Singh.

However, she failed to make the cut, as she doesn’t have support among the newly-elected 40 MLAs, the reports said citing sources.

On Saturday evening, her supporters demonstrated in front of the hotel where Congress observers are staying opposing Sukhvinder Sukhu’s selection.

Yesterday, they also stopped the vehicle of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who is one of the central observers, ahead of Congress’s crucial meeting and asserted their support for Pratibha Singh.

In the meeting, the newly-elected MLAs had allowed the party president to pick the legislature party leader, who will also be the next chief minister.

The Congress defeated BJP in the Himachal Pradesh elections, winning 40 out of 68 seats.