In a significant political development in Himachal Pradesh, the Leader of Opposition, Jairam Thakur, and members of the BJP’s legislative party met with Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla at the Raj Bhawan. The Congress government faces uncertainty following a disappointing performance in the recent Rajya Sabha elections. Thakur expressed concerns over the events that occurred in the Assembly, critiquing the denial of a division of votes during the financial bill and the double adjournment of the House. He highlighted the inappropriate conduct of the Marshals toward BJP MLAs and warned of potential punitive actions against certain party legislators and Congress MLAs who sided with the BJP in the Rajya Sabha elections, suggesting that the government no longer has the legitimacy to stay in power.
The Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu found difficulty in maintaining unity within the party, as six MLAs defected, creating an environment ripe for a motion of no-confidence in the assembly. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had to intervene by sending senior leaders to Himachal Pradesh to mitigate the brewing political crisis. BJP MLA Vipin Singh Parmar criticized the Speaker’s actions, commenting on how the customary debate after a cut motion was forsaken and how opposition voices were stifled.
Adding to the ruling party’s woes, state minister Vikramaditya Singh tendered his resignation from the ministry. He criticized Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for neglecting MLAs and for the lack of respect shown towards his father, the late Virbhadra Singh, a prominent figure in the Congress. Vikramaditya Singh underscored that the election campaign heavily relied on his father’s legacy. The Congress government is under fire from within its own ranks for its approach to governance and financial management, with disgruntled voices expressing discontent over unaddressed issues and unfulfilled promises, particularly to the youth of the state.