Himachal Pradesh Political Crisis: A Big Challenge For Congress Before 2024 Election. Amidst the ongoing political deadlock in Himachal Pradesh, big news is coming that Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has resigned from the post of Chief Minister. Leader of Opposition and former CM Jai Ram Thakur made such a claim outside the Himachal Pradesh Assembly. However, CM Sukhu has not yet submitted his resignation to the governor. Nevertheless, he has been asked by the Congress high command to be ready to resign.

In Himachal Pradesh, the Congress government led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is facing a crisis.  Political confusion prevailed in Himachal Pradesh since Tuesday after six Congress MLAs voted in favor of the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections. Sources said that some MLAs have put forward the name of Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri for the post of Chief Minister. A source said that more than a dozen MLAs are angry with CM Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu. He has expressed his displeasure in front of the Congress high command. Sources said they have demanded a change in the chief minister.

A day after winning the lone Rajya Sabha seat in Himachal Pradesh, members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislature party led by Jai Ram Thakur met Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Wednesday. The meeting comes amid speculation that the BJP may move a no-confidence motion against the Congress government in the state. The BJP claimed that the Congress government has lost majority in the House.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday alleged that five to six Congress MLAs were abducted. The CM claimed that he was taken along in convoys of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Haryana Police. He also said that the families of these MLAs are trying to contact them (MLAs).  The allegation came hours after polling ended for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from the state amid concerns in the ruling Congress over cross-voting.

Vikramaditya Singh opens the front against CM Sukhu! Resigns as Minister

In Himachal Pradesh, Vikramaditya Singh, son of his minister and former CM Virbhadra Singh, has also opened a front against Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu. Vikramaditya Singh resigned as a cabinet minister on Wednesday, accusing the CM of making big allegations. Let us know that the clouds of crisis are looming over the Congress government of Himachal Pradesh.  Political confusion has prevailed in Himachal Pradesh since Tuesday after 6  Congress MLAs voted in favor of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)  candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections.

Vikramaditya Singh, a minister in the Himachal Pradesh government, said that there has been neglect with the MLAs somewhere, and an attempt has been made to suppress the voice of the MLAs, due to which we are standing on this brink today. These issues have also been raised with the party leadership,  but they were not taken up the way they should have been addressed.

Accused of humiliation

“I am saddened to say that I have been humiliated as a minister,  the kind of messages sent to the department have been tried to weaken us… The government was formed by the collective effort of all… I am not going to succumb to any pressure.

Vikramaditya Singh said, “We have always supported the party… I would just like to say today that it is not right for me to continue in this Government at present. I have decided that I am resigning from the Cabinet. “

Singh further said, “…I have apprised the party high command about the actual circumstances. Now the ball is in his court, now he has to decide what his move will be. Whatever will happen in the coming time will be done in consultation with the party’s high command. I have full faith that whatever decision will be taken will be taken in the larger interest of the organization, party, and the people of this state. “

15 BJP MLAs suspended in Himachal Pradesh

15 BJP MLAs including LoP Jairam Thakur, Vipin Singh Parmar, Randhir Sharma, Lokendra Kumar, Vinod Kumar, Hans Raj, Janak Raj, Balbir Verma, Trilok Jamwal, Surendra Shori, Deep Raj, Puran Thakur, Inder Singh Gandhi Dilip Thakur and Inder Singh Gandhi were expelled by the Assembly Speaker on Wednesday for allegedly shouting slogans and misbehaving in the Assembly Speaker’s chamber.

‘I am not one to be afraid’ Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu denies rumors of resignation

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has completely denied reports of his resignation. Some time ago, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Jairam Thakur had claimed that Sukhu had resigned from the post of Chief Minister. However, the Chief Minister’s advisor also described such reports as baseless. The CM also accused the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party of spreading false rumors of his resignation and claimed that the Congress was united.

“I am not the one to get scared and I can say this with a guarantee that when the budget is presented, the Congress is going to win,” he said. The budget will be passed today. BJP is spreading rumors about my resignation. Congress is united. CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu further said, “BJP is spreading rumors of my resignation. They want to create a split in the legislative party. They want Congress MLAs to leave the party and join them. Congress is united… Some BJP MLAs who voted for BJP are in touch with us. “

The Congress on Wednesday said the party is at the top and will not shy away from taking tough decisions to uphold the people’s mandate. The BJP won the seat after six Congress MLAs cross-voted in a Rajya Sabha seat in Himachal Pradesh and since then there has been a political crisis in the state. Party General Secretary Jairam Ramesh also said that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has spoken to the observers and asked them to speak to the MLAs and submit the report soon.

Vikramaditya Singh talks to Priyanka Gandhi

Disgruntled Congress  MLA in Himachal Pradesh, Vikramaditya Singh, has dismissed speculations of going with the Bharatiya Janata Party for the time being. However, he has said that he has talked to party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi. Whatever happens next will be decided by the party high command. On Wednesday morning, Vikramaditya Singh resigned from the post of state PWD minister. He had also accused the party of insulting and weakening him.

“I am submitting my resignation to the Chief Minister and the Governor,” he told a press conference.  “There were attempts to humiliate and weaken me, but despite objections, I supported the government. “

Speaking to the media on Vikramaditya Singh’s resignation, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said, “I have spoken to Vikramaditya Singh and he is my younger brother. There is no reason to accept his resignation. They have some grievances which will be sorted out. “

CM Sukhu further informed, “One of the MLAs who cross-voted during the Rajya Sabha election has said that forgive him, because he has betrayed the party. However, the people of the state will give them an answer,” he said. However,  soon after, Sukhu denied all these reports and speculations. “Neither the high command nor anyone else has demanded my resignation. Nor have I resigned. “

‘Party of 25  MLAs is challenging majority of 43’ Priyanka lashes out at BJP over Himachal Pradesh

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party in Himachal Pradesh wants to trample on the rights of the people and is challenging the majority. He claimed that the BJP  wants to push Himachal Pradesh into a “political disaster”.  A political crisis erupted in Himachal Pradesh after the BJP won a Rajya Sabha seat after six Congress MLAs cross-voted.  

Priyanka Gandhi said, “If a party with  25 MLAs is challenging the majority of 43  MLAs, then it means that it is dependent on the horse-trading of representatives. Of the 68  seats in the state assembly, the Congress holds 40 and the BJP 25. The remaining three seats are occupied by independents.

“Their attitude is unethical and unconstitutional. The people of Himachal and the country are watching everything. The BJP, which did not stand with the people of the state at the time of natural calamity, now wants to push the state into a political disaster. “

The budget passed in the opposition’s absence

On the other hand, the budget was passed from the Assembly in the absence of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)  MLAs,  as 15  members of the party were suspended and the remaining 10 members walked out of the House in protest. The Himachal Pradesh Assembly was adjourned a day before its scheduled time on Tuesday amid political turmoil following the defeat of Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi in the Rajya Sabha elections and the resignation announcement by Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh. The budget was presented on February 17, 2024, by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who also holds the finance portfolio.  The Budget was discussed in the House from 19  to 22 February.

’15 MLAs suspended to save government’, BJP lashes out at Sukhu government

Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania on Wednesday suspended 15 BJP MLAs, including Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur. The House was then adjourned. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshvardhan Chauhan moved a motion demanding the suspension of BJP members for insulting and misbehaving with the Speaker. When the House passed the resolution by voice vote, Chouhan said these MLAs should be suspended for the smooth functioning of the House.

The BJP has expressed displeasure over the action of the Assembly Speaker. The opposition has alleged that 15 of its MLAs have been suspended to save the government of Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu.  On the suspension of 15 MLAs, former CM Jai Ram Thakur said that BJP has 25 MLAs. After voting in the Rajya Sabha, this number increased to 34. This has caused a big crisis in the government… They had to somehow pass the budget or else the government would fall.

He alleged that the only way he had for this was how he could reduce the number of BJP MLAs. Today, 15 MLAs have been suspended without any reason, I am one of them. Thakur said the 15  MLAs were suspended to save the Congress government. After our suspension, they passed the budget.

Assembly adjourned sine die

In Himachal Pradesh, the House witnessed noisy scenes. BJP MLAs were suspended from the House amid the ruckus. After this, there was an earthquake in the politics of Himachal Pradesh throughout the day. Now the session has been adjourned sine-die a day earlier. The proceedings of the House lasted for a total of 56 hours and 1 minute and its productivity was 93.33 percent.

The Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday adjourned sine die after the budget for the financial year 2024-25  and the appropriation bill authorizing the government to spend Rs 6,24,21.73  crore from the consolidated fund. The budget was passed in the absence of BJP MLAs as 15 party members were suspended and the remaining 10 members walked out in protest.

DK Shivakumar and Hooda arrive in Shimla

In Himachal Pradesh, the top leadership of the Congress has become active in convincing the disgruntled MLAs who voted in favor of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections. Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have reached Himachal Pradesh’s capital Shimla. Both the leaders are holding a meeting with the disgruntled Congress MLAs.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has appointed senior leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda and DK Shivakumar to interact with the MLAs. The six  MLAs are believed to be disappointed with the working style of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and are demanding his removal.

 The six MLAs left Shimla for Haryana on Tuesday after casting their votes for the Rajya Sabha polls. Then they all went back to Shimla on Wednesday afternoon. It is believed that he is in touch with the BJP. This indicates that the crisis in the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh is deepening.

After 2014 ‘Khela’ Played in the Following States

Government fell in Bihar: The Nizam has changed many times in power in Bihar. For the first time in 2015, Nitish Kumar formed a government with Lalu Yadav’s party RJD, and Congress in a grand alliance. However, within about two years, Nitish Kumar became disillusioned with the Grand Alliance and formed a government with the NDA.  The  JDU and NDA government came to power in the assembly elections held in 2020, but Nitish once again joined the NDA in 2022 and formed the government with Mahagathbandhan. Two years later, Nitish again came to the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan government fell.

Uddhav Thackeray’s chair went to Maharashtra: In Maharashtra too, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government collapsed after the Rajya Sabha elections. In the Rajya  Sabha elections held on 6 seats in Maharashtra in the year 2022, BJP won three seats. The results of the election dealt a major blow to the Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress, which are part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition. A few days after the Rajya Sabha elections, there was a rebellion in the Thackeray government. The MLAs of the Eknath Shinde faction revolted and toppled the Uddhav government. A few days later, the Shinde faction and the BJP joined hands to form the government.

Kamal Nath Government of MP: In 2020, Jyotiraditya Scindia left the Congress and joined the BJP. Along with Scindia, many MLAs also left the Congress. After Scindia switched sides, the Kamal Nath government went to a minority. The Congress government fell and Shivraj Singh Chouhan again became the chief minister.

Power Coup in Karnataka: In the assembly elections held in the 2018 elections, BJP could not form the government despite becoming the largest party. The Congress formed the government with the third largest party JDS. Senior Congress leader Yeddyurappa was made CM, but he resigned due to the defeat in the floor test. The Congress made a big move and gave the JDS the post of CM and then formed the government. However, after a few months, it was also played here. 16 MLAs of the coalition resigned. The government was reduced to a minority. Unable to win the trust vote, the Congress-JDS government collapsed and the BJP formed the government.

Conclusion From aAditri Digital

In the wake of the tumultuous political crisis engulfing Himachal Pradesh, the resignation of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu marks a critical juncture in the state’s political landscape. The series of events, including cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha elections and subsequent resignations within the Congress government, underscore the deep-seated fissures within the political establishment. The emergence of dissenting voices within the ruling party, exemplified by Vikramaditya Singh’s resignation and allegations of neglect, highlights the challenges faced by the leadership in maintaining cohesion and stability.

The suspension of BJP MLAs and the adjournment of the Assembly amidst uproar reflect the heightened tensions and the desperate maneuvers to retain power. Amidst speculations and contradictory statements regarding Sukhu’s resignation, the uncertainty looms large over the fate of the government. The intervention of senior Congress leaders and the efforts to placate disgruntled MLAs underscore the gravity of the situation.

The parallels drawn with past political upheavals in other states serve as a stark reminder of the volatile nature of Indian politics. As stakeholders engage in high-stakes negotiations and power struggles, the ultimate ramifications remain uncertain. The resilience of democratic institutions and the will of the electorate will ultimately shape the course of events, as Himachal Pradesh navigates through this turbulent chapter in its political history.