Chief Minister of Himachal sworn in: Congress Legislature Party leader Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu was today sworn in as the 15th Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh at the historic Ridge in Shimla. Meanwhile, Congress leader Mukesh Agnihotri also took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister. Senior leaders including party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were present at the swearing-in ceremony. The maximum number of cabinet ministers in the state can be 12 including the Chief Minister. The cabinet will be expanded later. Sukhu is the first Congress leader from lower Himachal – which includes areas like Nalagarh, Una, Hamirpur, Kangra and the lower hills of Kullu that were merged with Himachal in 1966 – to hold the top post. He is the second chief minister from Hamirpur district after BJP’s Prem Kumar Dhumal. The Congress wrested power from the BJP by winning 40 of the 68 assembly seats in the hill state.