THE NEWS FREEDOM
SHIMLA, FEBRUARY 29
Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker, Kuldeep Singh Pathania, on Thursday disqualified six rebel Congress MLAs who cross-voted during the Rajya Sabha elections, stripping them of their membership in the state assembly. However, the rebels have contested the decision, seeking legal recourse and challenging the speaker’s ruling in court. Meanwhile, Congress leader DK Shivakumar assured media outlets that the Sukhu government would persist, with all MLAs pledging support for a full five-year term. He also disclosed that Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu has assumed responsibility for Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi’s defeat in the Rajya Sabha elections.
Addressing future strategies to address grievances, Shivakumar announced the formation of a six-member coordination committee between the party and the state government to preempt any potential political crises. The Congress-led government in Himachal Pradesh experienced significant upheaval following the BJP’s victory in the state’s lone Rajya Sabha seat during Tuesday’s elections.
In an interview with a news channel, Congress state chief Pratibha Singh mentioned numerous issues raised with the Chief Minister, who has consistently deferred resolutions, citing the need for approval from Congress’s high command. Pratibha Singh clarified that there is no faction within the Congress and emphasized unity among party members. While acknowledging existing issues, she expressed optimism that they would be resolved over time. Regarding the Chief Minister’s post, she stressed the importance of consulting all stakeholders before making any decisions.
With the suspension of six MLAs, the assembly’s strength has diminished to 62 members. The Congress now commands 34 seats in the assembly, while 32 represents the majority mark. Furthermore, three independent MLAs who previously supported the Congress also crossed party lines to vote for the BJP in the Rajya Sabha election.
The political crisis escalated in Himachal Pradesh after the BJP demanded a trust vote in the wake of Congress’s loss in the Rajya Sabha polls due to defections. Former Chief Minister and BJP leader Jairam Thakur asserted that the Congress had lost its majority in the house. Nonetheless, the Congress government managed to pass the budget on Wednesday, with 25 BJP MLAs absent from the assembly following the suspension of 15 of their counterparts. Himachal Pradesh PWD Minister, Vikramaditya Singh, tendered his resignation yesterday, citing certain issues. However, following consultations with Congress observers, he announced that he would not immediately press his resignation until all the issues were resolved.
हमने जबसे लोगों की समस्याओं का निपटारा करना शुरू किया है, तबसे भाजपा किसी न किसी षड्यंत्र के तहत सरकार को गिराने की ओछी राजनीति कर रही है। लेकिन मैं ये आश्वस्त कर दूँ कि ये सरकार पूरे 5 साल चलेगी।#congressgovernment #HimachalCongress pic.twitter.com/GxgfrfhUYe
— Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (@SukhuSukhvinder) February 29, 2024