sukhu-steps-up-attack-on-rebels-in-hp

Seemingly more worried about the outcome of six Assembly by-polls, the ruling Congress has stepped up its attack on the party rebels, who were elected as MLAs on Congress ticket in 2022 and are now the BJP candidates from the constituencies, they were disqualified from, within 14 months for defying the party whip.

 

Addressing a rally at Bangana in Kutlehar Assembly constituency (where a by-poll is being held) in Una district today, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who was accorded a rousing reception by the people, said the people who got sold out in just 14 months will be rejected by the people.

 

 “The party does not matter in such a case, the vote this time should be to shunt out such people from electoral politics,” he said.

 

He asked the people of Kutlehar to defeat Congress rebel Devinder Kumar Bhutto and teach a lesson for not respecting the mandate of the people. He said he had been personally doing the works of the people of Kutlehar, not the MLA here.

 

He said the people who become leaders with the vote and support of people and auction their status like this should be ousted from power.

 

Sukhu alleged that the BJP tried to destabilize the Congress government, which has been elected for five years by the people in 2022, with money power. “What BJP did is an attempt to defeat the mandate of people with money. It is an attempt to grab power with money, then how can we expect such people to do service to people? People should reject such corrupt politics and politicians,” he said.

 

He said the Congress rebels were paid huge amounts in crores to cross-vote in Rajya Sabha elections. Sukhu said the Congress government is doing its work sincerely and honestly for the people.

 

“We may not have money with us, but we have the courage and we have the commitment to work for the people and our biggest support is the support of the people,” Sukhu said.

 

He said he had himself risen from the grassroots and had worked hard in politics through the decades. “I know the pain of the poor people and have hence tried to facilitate them in the present regime,” he said.

 

“I am from the adjoining district, but you have Deputy Chief Minister, Mukesh Agnihotri from Una district for the first time. The government is going to last its full term. Still three and a half years to go. We will win all the six Assembly segments, in which the rebels sold out their imaan and went to BJP,” Sukhu said.

 

He questioned Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur as to how he was claiming that when the election results are declared on June 4, the BJP would form government in Himachal Pradesh. “How can a party with 25 MLAs rule the state, when the Congress party, which enjoys full mandate, is already running the government,” he said.

 

He cautioned Jai Ram Thakur that the BJP should better keep its flock together as the people who have joined the BJP for money will try to spoil things in their new party now.

 

“The enthusiasm in today’s rally has shown that ‘bikau aur khao nahin chalengey, Himachal meiy tikaao vikas chalega’," said Sukhu.

 

The Congress at present has 34 members in the state Assembly, including the Speaker. The BJP has four. The three Independents have resigned from the Assembly, although the Speaker is yet to accept their resignation.

 

The by-polls to six Assembly constituencies, where Congress rebels were disqualified, for defying the party whip will be held on June 1, along with Lok Sabha elections.