THE NEWS FREEDOM
SHIMLA, FEBRUARY 28
In a fresh setback for the Congress party, Himachal Pradesh PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh, the son of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, tendered his resignation from his ministerial post on Wednesday. This move comes on the heels of the Congress’ defeat to the BJP in a single Rajya Sabha seat in the state. However, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has not yet accepted Vikramaditya’s resignation.
Addressing a press conference, Vikramaditya, who represents the Shimla Rural constituency in the state legislative assembly, highlighted the lack of coordination among ministers. He expressed dismay over attempts to undermine his role as a cabinet minister, emphasizing the necessity for cohesion within the Council of Ministers. “This breach of trust has brought us to where we stand today,” he remarked.
“I am tendering my resignation to the Chief Minister and the Governor. Despite facing attempts to demean and undermine my position, I supported the government,” Vikramaditya further stated, expressing deep disappointment over recent events. He underscored the need for introspection within the Congress ranks, noting that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi had been briefed on the situation. Vikramaditya also remarked on the party’s obligations to fulfill its promises to the people.
In his statement to the media, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu emphasized, “Vikramaditya Singh is like a younger brother to me, and there is no basis to accept his resignation. We have engaged in a dialogue, and I am confident that we will address his concerns satisfactorily.” later when questioned by the media about why his resignation had not been accepted, Vikramaditya responded, stating that it is within the Chief Minister’s prerogative, and he does not succumb to pressure. He further emphasized, “I give pressure, I do not take it.”
The Rajya Sabha election in Himachal Pradesh was marred by instances of cross-voting by certain Congress members. BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan secured victory over Congress stalwart Abhishek Manu Singhvi through a draw of lots. Despite the BJP’s numerical disadvantage in the assembly, with only 25 MLAs compared to Congress’s 40 MLAs and three independent MLAs, the BJP clinched victory with cross-voting from Congress members. Six Congress MLAs and three independent MLAs supporting the government reportedly cast their ballots for the BJP, resulting in this unforeseen outcome.