Our politics is organisation-driven now

SUKHVINDER SINGH SUKHU used to run a milk counter in Chhota Shimla, a pine-covered suburb of Shimla, to finance his studies. He started at the lowest rungs of the Congress and rose through the ranks to become chief minister two decades later. With the Congress now rewiring its organisation, he is betting on the party's revamped state machinery to retain power in the hill state. In an exclusive interview, Sukhu talks about his government's key challenges, the factionalism in the party, the friction with the Centre and the state's financials. Excerpts:

- NAMRATA BIJI AHUJA AND BADAR BASHIR

What are your government's achievements, and what remains your priority?

From day one, our government had just one slogan: system change. Initially, many within the system said it was impossible. They believed governance had to continue the way it had for the last 40 years—slow, rigid and disconnected from people's realities. We challenged that thinking. System change means questioning outdated rules, changing laws that harm ordinary citizens and making governance responsive. Earlier, files would move endlessly between departments. We broke that inertia. Decision-making has become faster and more humane.

For instance, during the recent disaster, officials initially told me that under existing rules, only ₹1.5 lakh could be given to families whose houses were destroyed. I asked them a simple question: 'Can anyone build even one room with that amount?' We changed the rule.

We announced the largest disaster relief package in the country: ₹7 lakh for house construction and ₹1 lakh for essentials for each affected family. We also arranged rent support and food assistance. This is what system change looks like.

Factionalism is often cited as a major challenge within the Congress, including in Himachal Pradesh.