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The political landscape in Himachal Pradesh is in turmoil after a dramatic turn of events in the Rajya Sabha polls, where six Congress MLAs reportedly voted in favor of the BJP candidate. This move has thrown the Congress government into a crisis, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claiming that the Congress has lost its majority in the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly.
Led by Jairam Thakur, BJP Legislature Party leaders met with Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla to convey their claim that the Congress government no longer holds the mandate of the assembly. The BJP’s assertion comes after the cross-voting by six Congress MLAs in the Rajya Sabha polls, a move that has significantly altered the political dynamics in the state.
In response to the crisis, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has deployed senior leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda and DK Shivakumar to engage with the dissident MLAs. The six legislators, reportedly disenchanted with the working style of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, are seeking his replacement. Hooda and Shivakumar are expected to reach Shimla early Wednesday to assess the situation and attempt to defuse the crisis.
The upset in the Rajya Sabha polls saw the BJP’s candidate, Harsh Mahajan, securing victory over Congress stalwart Abhishek Manu Singhvi. The voting resulted in a tie, with both candidates receiving 34 votes each. However, the BJP emerged victorious through a draw of lots, indicating the presence of rebel Congress MLAs who voted against their party’s candidate.
The BJP’s victory in the Rajya Sabha polls has set the stage for a potential no-trust motion against the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh. The political landscape in the state is now fraught with uncertainty as the BJP capitalizes on the recent developments to challenge the Congress’s hold on power.
