Congress Needs to Replace CM Sukhu, But Faces a Dilemma in Himachal
Following the BJP candidate’s victory in the Rajya Sabha elections on Tuesday, six Congress MLAs cast their votes, throwing Himachal Pradesh into a political bind. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the chief minister, has reportedly arrived to Hotel Sisil and is in “continuous communication with senior Congress leaders Rajiv Shukla and Bhupesh Baghel.”
News18 was informed by sources that a few MLAs submitted deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri’s name for the chief minister position. More than a dozen MLAs, according to a source, are upset with the chief minister and have taken their complaints to the Congress high command. The source further said that they have sought a new chief minister.
FOLLOW HIMACHAL PRADESH’S LATEST POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT: Congress sources informed News18 that the establishment party is attempting to have six opposition MLAs removed from office. The six MLAs have received notice from the speaker on Congress’ request.
• In the meanwhile, former chief minister and leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Jairam Thakur, was seen leaving Raj Bhavan in Shimla after a meeting with governor Shiv Pratap Shukla.
• Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Thakur stated: “The security chief claimed that Marshalls were just carrying out the Speaker’s orders, despite the fact that they misbehaved with our MLAs.” It is not appropriate for this administration to continue in office.
• Jairam Thakur said that they doubt the Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha would suspend BJP MLAs in order to easily approve the budget. “Notices were sent to several Congress MLAs who cast ballots in the Rajya Sabha elections. According to the Election Commission’s directive, cross-tabulation voting is permissible in the Rajya Sabha, he continued.
• News18 was informed by sources that the Congress MLAs who are upset would go by flying to Shimla to voice their opinions. As a result of their alleged discussions on “making BJP candidate win in the interest of the state,” the lawmakers have been called “traitors”.
• The party is working on a few proposals, according to top congressional sources. According to one suggestion, Priyanka Gandhi intends to appoint two additional deputy chief ministers despite her support for CM Sukhu. The regional balance will be preserved while doing this.
• Reportedly, a comment even recommended holding off on changing the chief minister till after the Lok Sabha elections. The party is concerned that the outcomes of the 2024 vote may be impacted if the current state of affairs persists. It was brought up by a few MLAs at the Tuesday meeting that Sukhu was running the government by clique and that it was hard to get along with him.
• To assess the situation, former chief minister of Haryana Bhupinder Singh Hooda and deputy chief minister of Karnataka DK Shivakumar arrived in Shimla early on Wednesday. The six dissident MLAs had voted in the Rajya Sabha elections and had left Shimla for Haryana on Tuesday. They are reportedly in contact with the BJP as the Congress administration in Himachal Pradesh seems to be in turmoil.
CURRENT EVENTS IN HIMACHAL PRADESH?
The drama started on Tuesday during the Himachal Pradesh Rajya Sabha elections. The BJP’s candidate, Harsh Mahajan, defeated Congress veteran Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Tuesday, creating a surprise upset for the state’s governing Congress and perhaps opening the door for a no-trust vote in the legislature.
At least six Congress MLAs voted against the party, as shown by the tie in votes between the BJP and Congress candidates, 34 to 34. The outcome was then announced based on a lot drawing, according to the authorities.
The BJP has 25 members while the Congress has 40 MLAs in the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly. Independents occupy the last three seats.
The BJP Legislature Party, headed by Jai Ram Thakur, is reportedly planning to meet with the governor to seek a floor test on the grounds that the Congress administration has lost the majority in the legislature, according to sources.
The six MLAs, who are reportedly “disappointed” with CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s management style and are looking for his successor, have been assigned by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to speak with senior leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda and D K Shivakumar.
