In Himachal Pradesh, the political turmoil is being claimed by the BJP. This morning, a delegation of BJP MLAs including Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur met Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla to make him aware of the developments that took place in the last few days. It includes denial of cut motions and division voting on the finance bill and cross-voting by the Congress MLAs in the Rajya Sabha election. Despite claiming the support of around 45 MLAs including independents, the Congress got just 34 votes. A cross-voting by the Congress and independent MLAs saw the BJP tally going up to 34 despite having just 25 seats. In another setback for the ruling party, Himachal Pradesh minister & Congress MLA Vikramaditya Singh resigned from the post citing desrespect. Singh is son of former CM Virbhadra Singh. Vikramaditya Singh was also invited to the Ram Temple event by the VHP. However, it’s not clear whether he will resign from the Congress as well or not.
12.50 PM: Six rebel Congress MLAs have extended support to the BJP. On the other hand, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has also resigned from the post.
12.15 PM: Rebel Congress MLAs were not being allowed to enter the assembly to attend the budget session.
– हिमाचल विधानसभा के गेट पर जबरदस्त हंगामा
– विधानसभा पहुंचे सभी बागी विधायक
– विधानसभा के गेट से विधायकों को अंदर नहीं आने दिया जा रहा@DDNewslive pic.twitter.com/fFzYnAPIEQ
— DD News Himachal (@DDNewsHimachal) February 28, 2024
12.00: BJP Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Mahajan said that Congress Government is toppling. “So such attempts are being made – to suspend them. These are delay tactics and are followed in every Vidhan Sabha…Congress has dismantled from here. All the attempts they make now will fail. BJP will form the Government here…Nine MLAs (who cross-voted) are in my support,” said Mahajan.
11.32 AM: 15 BJP MLAs including LoP Jairam Thakur, Vipin Singh Parmar, Randheer Sharma, Lokender Kumar, Vinod Kumar, Hans Raj, Janak Raj, Balbir Verma, Trilok Jamwal, Surender Shori, Deep Raj, Puran Thakur, Inder Singh Gandhi, Dileep Thakur and Inder Singh Gandhi, have been expelled by the Assembly Speaker for allegedly shouting slogans and misconduct in the Chamber of Speaker today.
11.15 AM: Himachal Pradesh Assembly speaker today suspended 15 BJP MLAs as they kept on demanding division of votes on the finance bill. Now, by expelling 14 BJP MLAs, the Congress govt has made its path clear for the passage of the budget bill.
11.05 AM: All I would like to say is that under the current circumstances, it is not correct for me to continue as a part of the government. So, I have decided that I am resigning from the Council of Ministers. I am resigning as a minister. In the time to come, I will have video consultations with my people and then decide about the future course of action, said Vikramaditya Singh.
10.50 AM: Himachal Pradesh minister and Congress MLA Vikramaditya Singh said, “The chain of events that took place in the last 2-3 days is a matter of concern in a democracy, in Himachal Pradesh. This is concerning because the 70 lakh people of the state elected a government and after that gave the mandate to the Congress party. But such chain of events (cross-voting) occurring after that is a matter of concern.”
#WATCH | Shimla | Himachal Pradesh minister & Congress MLA Vikramaditya Singh holds a press conference following Himachal Pradesh Rajya Sabha election result.
He says, “…There is no doubt that former CM Virbhadra Singh’s name was used in the (Assembly) election…This is a… pic.twitter.com/kWDicjg7hW
— ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2024
10.30 AM: Himachal Pradesh Budget Session today. BJP demands division of votes.
10.10 AM: Six Congress Himachal Pradesh’s legislators who cross voted in Rajya Sabha elections on Tuesday and were staying at a hotel in Haryana left for Shimla in a helicopter for the Budget Session of the state assembly on Wednesday. Earlier on Tuesday, CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had claimed that opposition leaders were obstructing the work of counting officials, and that “5-6 Congress MLAs were taken away in a convoy of the CRPF and Haryana Police.”
#WATCH | Haryana: Chopper boarded by Himachal Pradesh MLAs, takes off from Panchkula. https://t.co/2R5baFaAbZ pic.twitter.com/IqXBrvhweT
— ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2024
9.40 AM: Himachal Pradesh BJP Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Mahajan said that the BJP will form a government in the state. “BJP is going to form its government in the state. Some more MLAs of Congress are in touch with us. I got phone calls from some of their MLAs and ministers…The situation is going to change in the next few hours and you will see BJP will form its govt soon…For the next 10-20 years, Congress is not going to come to power here…” he said.
#WATCH | HP BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan – who won the Rajya Sabha Elections says, “BJP is going to form its government in the state. Some more MLAs of Congress are in touch with us. I got phone calls from some of their MLAs and ministers…The situation is going to change in the… pic.twitter.com/2aPmfIhOrU
— ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2024
9.25 AM: Himachal Pradesh BJP Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Mahajan said that BJP is the game-changer in the politics. “People are upset with the Sukhu government. All good leaders are joining BJP. It is a future party…There has been cross-voting. On today’s date, Congress has lost its majority in the state. This Govt is not going to last for long…” he said.
08.50 AM: Watch: BJP Delegation led by LoP Jairam Thakur Meets Himachal Governor
#WATCH | Shimla: Himachal Pradesh LoP Jairam Thakur along with BJP’s legislative party met Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla at Raj Bhawan. pic.twitter.com/ZmnpXI2mxm
— ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2024
BJP Meets Governor
BJP has claimed that the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government in the state has lost its majority. Before meeting the governor today, former CM ahd LoP Jairam Thakur said, “We will apprise the Governor about what happened in the Assembly. We demanded division during the vote on the financial bill, it wasn’t allowed. The House was adjourned twice. This is not right, it has never happened in Himachal Pradesh. The government has lost the moral right to stay in power.”
Number Game
In the 2022 Himachal Pradesh assembly elections, the Congress emerged victorious with 40 seats out of the 68-member house. Additionally, the party secured the backing of three independent MLAs. The majority mark is 35. The BJP, on the other hand, attained 25 seats. There is speculation that if Congress loses the support of nine MLAs, its count would decrease to 31 MLAs.
Options With Congress
If the BJP demands a trust vote, the Assembly speaker may disqualify the rebel Congress MLAs as they not only violated party’s whip but also indulged in anti-party activity by cross voting. In that case, the majority mark will come down benefitting the Congress.
Congress MLAs In Panchkula
After yesterday’s cross-voting, many Congress MLAs are in Panchkula along with some BJP MLAs. Zee News TV also reported that many Congress MLAs are upset with CM Sukhu and have urged the party’s high command to change the Chief Minister. However, they left for Shimla in a helicoptre to attend the budget session.
Congress Rushes Observers
After the cross-voting led to the defeat of the Congress candidate in the Rajya Sabha, the grand old party rushed two observers – Bhupinder Singh Hooda and DK Shivakumar – to Shimla. They will meet the MLAs and the Chief Minister to bring the situation under control and prevent the collapse of the Sukhu government.
