In what can be termed as writing on the wall, the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government in Himachal Pradesh is in crisis in Himachal Pradesh within just one year of rule, with BJP’s Harsh Mahajan defeating Congress nominee Abhishek Manu Singhvi through a draw of lots after tie on 34 each, after cross voting by six
Congress MLAs and support by three Independent MLAs.
BJP has 25 MLAs in Himachal Pradesh and Congress 40.
The Congress MLAs, who have cross voted are Sudhir Sharma (Dharamshala), Rajender Rana (Sujanpur), Inder Dutt Lakhanpal (Badsar), Bhutto ( Kutlehr), Chaitanya Sharma (Gagret) and Ravi Thakur (Lahaul Spiti).
Happening for the first time in the history of Himachal Pradesh, it was a photo finish to the day long high voltage political drama in Shimla.
Amid chaos in the Vidhan Sabha premises throughout the day during Rajya Sabha poll, there were reports that nine MLAs, including six Congress MLAs, who voted for 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 68 membered Assembly in HP for majority, which Congress may not be able to prove with this situation.
Congress sources said, more than the government, at this moment, there is a clear crisis CM, Sukhu, with whispers already 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.
After the defeat, Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said it was unfortunate that six Congress MLAs have voted for the BJP candidate in Rajya Sabha poll.
“They defeated BJP nominees in Assembly polls. Unhoney apna imaan hi bechh diya, toh ab kya kahein,” he said.
Sukhu said this was voting for the Rajya Sabha poll, but added that it has never been in Himachal’s political culture to behave like this.
When asked about BJP remark that Congress is in minority in the state now, he said, “There is nothing like this. We will see when the floor test happens,” the Chief Minister said.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who lost the Rajya Sabha poll, said some of the Congress MLAs, who have voted for BJP, were in the Congress Legislature Party meeting last evening and had dinner there.
He said some among these nine MLAs, who supported BJP, “It is all about luck,”he said.
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