Sukhu government in crisis – uttamhindu.com

Congress’s Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu government is in trouble after BJP won a Rajya Sabha seat in Himachal Pradesh. The matter has reached the no-confidence motion. Despite Congress having 40 MLAs in the 68-member Himachal Assembly, its candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi could get 34 votes. BJP, which has 25 members in the House, also took 34 votes. After getting equal number of votes, the result was declared by slip and fate also chose BJP and Harsh Mahajan became the winner. Six Congress and three independent MLAs voted in favor of BJP. This is a big blow to the Sukhu government. The state is now moving towards President’s rule. Only after filing nomination papers, BJP had claimed that we are winning the elections. Harsh Mahajan had also said that my mathematics would be revealed only on 27th February. On Tuesday morning, Chief Minister Sukhu also clearly said that if the MLAs are not sold, they will vote only for the party candidate. By the evening it became clear that the resentment in the Congress is so much that the MLAs have started coming forward openly.

At a time of political crisis, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said that he has not resigned and the Congress government will complete its five-year term. After reports of Sukhu offering to step down, Himachal Chief Minister said, I have not made any offer to resign. I am a warrior, I will keep fighting. He claimed that the Congress party will remain in power in the state for full five years. On the resignation of his cabinet colleague Vikramaditya Singh, Sukhu said, he is my brother. He has some complaints and has spoken to me several times. Will sort it out. The party has also asked observers to talk to all MLAs in the state and prepare a comprehensive report on the crisis. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh told the media in Delhi that the party’s priority is to save its government in Himachal Pradesh. Ramesh said, at the moment, our priority is to save our Congress government because the Congress party had got a clear mandate in December 2022. The people of Himachal Pradesh had rejected the PM, Jagat Prakash Nadda, Anurag Thakur and Jai Ram Thakur. The mandate was for the Congress Party. Therefore, this mandate must be respected. The Modi government has only one guarantee – toppling all Congress governments, he said. We will not let this happen.

Harsh Mahajan was a confidant of King Veerbhadra and was also a politician. He was also his colleague in the cabinet of Virbhadra government. Despite being a three-time MLA, Mahajan has not lost any election till date. Even though his victory in the Rajya Sabha elections seemed impossible, he won.

After the victory of the Congress in the assembly elections held in 2022, the national leadership of the Congress ignored Virbhadra’s wife and son Vikramaditya and his associates and appointed Sukhu to the post of Chief Minister. Shortly before that, sensing the political situation, Harsh Mahajan resigned from Congress and joined BJP. The state Congress and national level leaders did not take the resignation letter given by Harsh Mahajan seriously. As a result, factionalism in the Congress intensified and dissatisfaction also increased, as a result of which the Sukhu government is in trouble today.

Hamirpur had given a big political blow to Prem Kumar Dhumal in the past and today it has given a big blow to Sukhwinder Sukhu. Sukhu may call himself a warrior, but the way six Congress MLAs and three independent MLAs rebelled against him right under his nose and he did not even know about it, shows his political failure.

If the national leadership of Congress wants to save its government in Himachal Pradesh, then as Jairam Ramesh has said, even if it has to take strict steps, it will take it. This will have to be done if the Congress government in Himachal has to be saved. Resignation will have to be taken from Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu because factionalism and dissatisfaction has increased in the state Congress due to Sukhu’s policies. Due to which Congress is facing such a situation today. As long as Sukhu remains the Chief Minister, there will be an atmosphere of tension and dissatisfaction in Himachal Congress. Lok Sabha elections are round the corner and there is every possibility of Congress getting a setback in that also. This situation will become normal only when instead of Sukhwinder Sukhu, a leader recognized by both the factions will be given leadership. The final decision has to be taken by the national leadership of Congress only. The MLAs of the state have already given a clear message to the leadership of the National Congress through their words and actions.