Cross voting in Rajya Sabha poll was almost a writing on the wall as some Congress MLAs were upset with the functioning of their own government, particularly Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
In what can be termed as a writing on the wall, the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government in Himachal Pradesh is in deep trouble in the midst of politics of numbers within just one year of rule in the wake of reports of cross voting by six Congress MLAs in favour of the BJP nominee for the Rajya Sabha seat, former Congress minister, Harsh Mahajan, along with three independent MLAs.
Happening for the first time in the history of Himachal Pradesh, it is going to be a photo finish to the day long high voltage political drama in Shimla, as there is now a tie between Congress and BJP after counting of votes at 34 each in the Assembly of 68 members.
Sources said the BJP has now objected and asked for disqualification of one vote of Congress MLA, who was ill and airlifted from Hoshiarpur in a state chopper for the polling.
The result is still awaited. However, amid chaos in the Vidhan Sabha premises throughout the day during Rajya Sabha poll, there are reports that the nine MLAs, including six Congress MLAs, who reportedly supported BJP, have moved out of the state and are said to be in constant touch with BJP.
With this, the immediate threat to the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh now is the Finance Bill (2024-25), which is to be passed on 29 February in the state Legislative Assembly.
Any party needs 35 MLAs in the 68 membered Assembly in HP for majority.
Congress party has 40 MLAs in Himachal Pradesh and BJP has 25 in the 68 member Assembly.
Congress sources said, more than the government, at this moment, there is a clear crisis CM, Sukhu, with whispers having started in the Congress about the demand for leadership change at the earliest if Congress government has to survive.
The BJP had strategically fielded former Congress minister, Harsh Mahajan for the Rajya Sabha seat on the last day of nomination on February 15.
Mahajan not only had great organizing skills, but had a good clout in the Congress party. He had switched to BJP just before the Assembly elections in 2022.
The BJP banked on the piling resentment against the Congress CM, Sukhu’s autocratic functioning in his first term on the coveted chair and proceeded with a calculation in the run up to Rajya Sabha polls, which had left the Congress party worried.
The ruling Congress had even issued whip to the party MLAs to vote in the Rajya Sabha poll, which has now proved a futile exercise.
The resentment among a section of Congress MLAs was quite open for many months now against their own government, as some of them, owing allegiance to the camp headed by former Chief Minister, late Virbhadra Singh, totally felt left out in formation of cabinet as well as general functioning of the government in Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s rule.
Vocal among them were Congress MLA, Rajender Rana and former minister, Sudhir Sharma, who were not inducted in the cabinet despite their strong claim, and not only this, they were not being given precedence in constituency works as well.
Rana, a three time MLA, was the one who brought the transition in BJP in 2017 Assembly elections, when he defeated the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate, Prem Kumar Dhumal (two times former CM) in Sujanpur.
Leader of Opposition, Jai Ram Thakur said the Congress government is in minority and has no right to stay in power now.
Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who visibly looked upset with the happenings in Rajya Sabha poll, however said he can only comment after the results. “I have talked to all the MLAs. We will get all the 40 votes, in case money has not played a game,” he said.
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