Vikramaditya Singh takes his resignation back, 15 BJP MLAs suspended

 The trouble for the Congress government comes at a time when the Assembly's annual Budget session is going on and ahead of voting on the state Finance Bill in the Assembly.

Livemint, 28 February 2024 : Congress-led Himachal Pradesh government is currently witnessing major political turmoil after the opposition BJP party won the lone seat of the state in the Rajya Sabha elections on Tuesday. The Congress government in the state faces an existential crisis after six MLAs crossed sides and are learnt to be in touch with the saffron party.

Adding Congress' woes, former state chief minister Vikramaditya Singh also announced his resignation from the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu cabinet. Following this, Congress top brass former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar have rushed to the hill state to parley with members of the party to prevent loss of power in the state.

The BJP on Tuesday won Himachal Pradesh's lone Rajya Sabha seat with its candidate Harsh Mahajan defeating Congress stalwart Abhishek Manu Singhvi. The contest tied with both the Congress and the BJP candidates getting 34 votes, indicating that at least six Congress MLAs voted against the party. The result was then declared on the basis of a draw of lots.

Of the 68-member assembly, Congress has 40 MLAs while the BJP has 25 legislators in Himachal. The remaining three seats are held by independents.

Six Congress MLAs who cross voted for BJP candidate flown back to Panchkula

The six Himachal Pradesh Congress MLAs, who cross-voted for BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan during the Rajya Sabha elections on Tuesday, were flown back to Panchkula after they appeared for hearing on a petition on anti-defection law before Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania.

These MLAs, namely Rajinder Rana, Sudhir Sharma, Ravi Thakur, Inder Dutt lakhanpal, Chetanya Sharma and Divender Kumar (Bhutto), who had left for Panchkula after voting on Tuesday, had returned to Shimla on Wednesday morning and left before the central Congress observers reached Shimla.

Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, the minister, who is the son of late Congress stalwart and long-time former CM Virbhadra Singh, said, "There is a difference between taking back the resignation and not pressing it until a final outcome emerges from the ongoing dialogue and the efforts of the central observers. We have had a round of discussions with the central observers and have briefed them on the present situation in the state. Till the final outcome (of the placatiry efforts of the central observers), I won't press my resignation."

Speaker suspends 15 BJP MLAs, minister Vikramaditya Singh announces 'resignation'

The Congress scrambled Wednesday to save its government in Himachal Pradesh, amid dramatic developments that included suspension of 15 BJP MLAs by the Speaker and a resignation offer by high-profile minister Vikramaditya Singh.

Singh, who is the son of Himachal Congress president Pratibha Singh, said in the morning that he is submitting his resignation from council of ministers but hours later softened his stand.

After state minister Vikramaditya Singh resigned as PWD minister, Congress leader Raghubir Singh Bali said on Wednesday that the decision taken by the former was because of differences of opinion rather than any disagreement.

Vikramaditya's remarks his opinion, all MLAs are with CM Sukhu, Congress leader RS Bali. He said that the Congress MLAs are with CM Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, and the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting can be called at any time.

‘Suspension of 15 MLAs was definitely done to save the government’, says former Himachal Pradesh CM and BJP leader Jairam Thakur

“Speaker has suspended 15 BJP MLAs from the house; this suspension was definitely done to save the government. Had the budget motion not passed today, it would have established the fact that the government has lost majority," said former Himachal Pradesh CM and BJP leader Jairam Thakur after meeting with party legislators in Shimla.

There was no danger to the government, says Vikramaditya Singh

"It is the responsibility of every individual to strengthen the organisation. In the larger interest and unity of the party, the resignation by me in the morning which the CM refused to accept, I would not like to press it further. There was no danger (to the government), it was just a creation." said Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh