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After two days of intense political upheaval in Himachal Pradesh, marked by six Congress MLAs crossing party lines in the Rajya Sabha polls, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s Congress-led government has managed to weather yet another storm. The intervention of observers Bhupinder Singh Hooda, DK Shivakumar, and Bhupesh Baghel proved pivotal in diffusing tensions between various Congress MLAs and CM Sukhu, ultimately ensuring the government’s temporary stability.
The observers, engaging in extensive discussions with all Himachal Pradesh MLAs, including notable figures like Vikramaditya Singh, are set to submit a detailed report to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge today, outlining the intricacies of the crisis and potential solutions.
Here are the key developments in the ongoing Himachal Pradesh political saga:
- Cross-voting Controversy: Six Congress MLAs, including prominent figures like Rajinder Rana and Sudhir Sharma, faced suspension by Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania for their involvement in cross-voting during the Rajya Sabha polls.
- Dissatisfaction with CM Sukhu: The preliminary report by Congress observers highlighted widespread discontent among MLAs regarding the functioning of certain state ministers and Chief Minister Sukhu’s alleged interference in ministerial affairs. Despite calls for Sukhu’s removal, observers advocate for maintaining status quo until the upcoming elections, leaving the final decision to party leadership.
- Congress Unity Meeting: A crucial breakfast meeting, attended by 23 Congress MLAs, including Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, aimed at fostering unity within the party ranks. However, Vikramaditya Singh’s absence raised eyebrows, though it was deemed an informal gathering by MLA Ashish Butail.
- Vikramaditya Singh’s Reversal: Amidst the turmoil, Vikramaditya Singh, son of Himachal Pradesh Congress president Pratibha Singh, withdrew his resignation and affirmed support for CM Sukhu’s government, asserting that there was no crisis.
- BJP’s Suspension: In a retaliatory move, Speaker Pathania suspended 15 BJP MLAs, including LoP Jairam Thakur, for disrupting the State Assembly proceedings during the Budget session.
- Rajya Sabha Election Drama: The Rajya Sabha elections witnessed high drama, culminating in a draw of lots that saw senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi losing to BJP’s Harsh Mahajan. The result, influenced by cross-voting and Independent MLAs’ support for the BJP, intensified the political turmoil in the state.
As Himachal Pradesh navigates through this turbulent phase, the fate of the Congress government hangs in the balance, with forthcoming decisions poised to shape the state’s political landscape leading up to the next elections.
