Congress leader Sonia Gandhi unveiled a towering six-foot bronze statue of Virbhadra Singh, the revered six-time Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, at Daulat Singh Park on Shimla’s iconic Ridge Ground. Joined by her daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Sonia paid floral tributes to the late leader, whose legacy looms large over the state’s political landscape. The event, marked by a massive turnout of Congress workers and locals, saw tightened security with 400 police personnel deployed and traffic halted until 3 PM to accommodate the crowds.

The statue, crafted by a firm tied to renowned sculptor Ram V. Sutar—famed for the 182-foot Statue of Unity—cost Rs 40 lakh, with Rs 24 lakh for construction and Rs 16 lakh for installation. It stands proudly alongside statues of luminaries like Himachal’s first CM Y.S. Parmar, Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, cementing Virbhadra’s place in history. A scion of the Rampur-Bushahr royal family, Virbhadra first became CM in 1983 and served five more terms, shaping the state until his passing in 2021 after a prolonged illness.

Organized by Virbhadra’s son, Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh, who chairs the Raja Virbhadra Singh Foundation, the unveiling was initially planned for Virbhadra’s June 23 birth anniversary but was deferred. The event doubled as a Congress rally, drawing heavyweights like Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri, state party chief Pratibha Singh (Virbhadra’s wife), and leaders Priyanka Gandhi, Sachin Pilot, Deepender Hooda, Rajni Patil, and Rajiv Shukla. The massive turnout reflected Virbhadra’s enduring popularity, with supporters chanting slogans and waving party flags.

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Shimla was abuzz as the city was divided into five security sectors, with special traffic and parking plans to manage the influx. Heavy vehicles were barred, ensuring smooth proceedings for the thousands who gathered to honor the leader who defined Himachal’s modern era. For Sonia and Priyanka, the event was a poignant nod to their party’s stalwart, whose four-decade career left an indelible mark. As the bronze figure gleams under Shimla’s skies, it stands as a tribute to a titan and a rallying cry for Congress in the hill state.

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