<p>Congress leader Sunil Sharma, who is believed to be a close aide of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has been appointed his political advisor.</p>.<p>This is the first appointment made by Sukhu, who was on Sunday sworn in as the 15th chief minister of the hill state.</p>.<p>Sharma has been appointed as political advisor to the chief minister in the rank of cabinet minister, a notification issued by Chief Secretary RD Dhiman on Sunday said.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read — <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/new-cm-his-deputy-brace-for-a-bumpy-road-in-himachal-pradesh-1170705.html" target="_blank">New CM, his deputy brace for a bumpy road in Himachal Pradesh</a></strong></p>.<p>In the past, Sharma has served as the president of the Congress' Hamirpur district unit and the party's state general secretary.</p>.<p>The Congress wrested power from the BJP in the state winning 40 of the 68 assembly seats. Polling was held on November 12 and results were declared on Thursday.</p>.<p>Sharma was also in the race for a Congress ticket for contesting the Hamirpur assembly seat but could not get one.</p>.<p>The seat was won by Independent candidate Ashish Sharma who defeated Congress' Pushpinder Verma by 12,899 votes, according to the Election Commission.</p>.<p>Sharma was also a member of the Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission during the previous Congress government in the state.</p>.<p>Sukhu's choice as the chief minister is also being seen as the Congress shifting its power centre from Upper Himachal to Lower Himachal.</p>.<p>In other appointments, Danbir Thakur, a retired state administrative services officer, has been given the post of Officer on Special Duty to the chief minister, officials said.</p>
<p>Congress leader Sunil Sharma, who is believed to be a close aide of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has been appointed his political advisor.</p>.<p>This is the first appointment made by Sukhu, who was on Sunday sworn in as the 15th chief minister of the hill state.</p>.<p>Sharma has been appointed as political advisor to the chief minister in the rank of cabinet minister, a notification issued by Chief Secretary RD Dhiman on Sunday said.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read — <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/new-cm-his-deputy-brace-for-a-bumpy-road-in-himachal-pradesh-1170705.html" target="_blank">New CM, his deputy brace for a bumpy road in Himachal Pradesh</a></strong></p>.<p>In the past, Sharma has served as the president of the Congress' Hamirpur district unit and the party's state general secretary.</p>.<p>The Congress wrested power from the BJP in the state winning 40 of the 68 assembly seats. Polling was held on November 12 and results were declared on Thursday.</p>.<p>Sharma was also in the race for a Congress ticket for contesting the Hamirpur assembly seat but could not get one.</p>.<p>The seat was won by Independent candidate Ashish Sharma who defeated Congress' Pushpinder Verma by 12,899 votes, according to the Election Commission.</p>.<p>Sharma was also a member of the Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission during the previous Congress government in the state.</p>.<p>Sukhu's choice as the chief minister is also being seen as the Congress shifting its power centre from Upper Himachal to Lower Himachal.</p>.<p>In other appointments, Danbir Thakur, a retired state administrative services officer, has been given the post of Officer on Special Duty to the chief minister, officials said.</p>