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The political landscape of Himachal Pradesh witnessed another seismic shift as several former MLAs from the state assembly crossed party lines to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday, exacerbating the ongoing political crisis gripping the region. Amidst the tumult, six Congress MLAs and three Independent MLAs embraced the saffron party in a move that could have far-reaching implications for the state’s political future.
The six rebel Congress MLAs – Sudhir Sharma, Ravi Thakur, Rajinder Rana, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Chetanya Sharma, and Devinder Kumar Bhutto – found themselves disqualified on February 29 for contravening a party whip, prompting them to switch allegiance to the BJP. Their defiance stemmed from their refusal to heed the party’s directive to support the Himachal Pradesh government during crucial legislative proceedings.
In a parallel development, three Independent MLAs – Ashish Sharma, Hoshiyar Singh, and KL Thakur – tendered their resignations on Friday, signaling their intent to align with the BJP ahead of the impending bypolls in their constituencies.
“We have submitted our resignations. We will join the BJP and contest the elections on its ticket,” remarked one of the Independent MLAs, underscoring the strategic realignment underway in Himachal Pradesh’s political landscape.
The roots of the ongoing political turmoil can be traced back to the Congress government led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, which faced a crisis last month following the BJP’s victory in the Rajya Sabha poll for the state’s lone seat, facilitated by the support of the nine MLAs who have now defected.
While Sukhu’s administration appears resilient for now, the BJP’s aggressive maneuvering suggests an imminent challenge to its stability, with the saffron party eyeing bypoll victories to bolster its numbers in the assembly. The disqualification of the six Congress MLAs has significantly weakened the ruling party’s position, narrowing its strength from 39 to 33 in the 62-member assembly.
With the Speaker, a Congress affiliate, holding a crucial role in potential tie-breaker scenarios, the BJP’s efforts to sway the balance of power in its favor have intensified. The recent resignations of the three Independent MLAs further underscore the precarious nature of the political landscape in Himachal Pradesh, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle for control in the upcoming bypolls.
As the political saga unfolds, the fate of Himachal Pradesh’s governance hangs in the balance, with the specter of further defections and realignments casting a shadow over the state’s political future.
