Himachal Crisis: Vikramaditya Takes Back Resignation After Meeting Cong Observers; Sukhu Govt Safe For Now | Top Points

Amid political turmoil in Congress’ Himachal Pradesh unit, the Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government managed to retain power on Wednesday with the successful passage of the state budget 2024-25. The Congress high command was also able to pacify party leader Vikramaditya Singh, who stepped down as Public Works Minister, with him withdrawing his resignation

The political scenario in Himachal changed dramatically after the defeat of Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi in the Rajya Sabha elections and the resignation of Vikramaditya Singh— son of the late former Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh.

However, after meeting Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda– who are appointed as the Congress Observers of Himachal Pradesh– the PWD Minister said, “There is no crisis in the (Himachal Pradesh) government” and he will not press his resignation till the outcome of the observers’ report is filed.

Himachal Congress Political Crisis: Top Points

• In a major relief for the Sukhvinder Sukhu government, the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha was adjourned sine die on Wednesday after the passing of the budget for 2024-25. With this, the Congress Govt strengthened its position, with no immediate threat for the next three months.
• The budget was passed in the absence of BJP members as 15 of them were suspended while the remaining 10 staged a walkout in protest against the suspension of its members. BJP’s Satpal Singh Satti said the party MLAs were suspended as the government did not enjoy the majority in the house to pass the financial bill. Nine MLAs, including six Congress MLAs and three independents, who cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha polls held on Tuesday, were also not present in the House.
• The suspension of BJP MLAs came minutes after Congress minister Vikramaditya Singh announced his resignation from the Cabinet, saying there were attempts to suppress the voice of MLAs, and that has led to this situation for the government. He also emphasised the lack of acknowledgement shown by the current Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu-led government to his late father, who served as the Chief Minister of the state six times.
• To deal with the escalating crisis, the Congress high sent Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda as observers to engage with the disgruntled MLAs. Party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is also actively monitoring the developments and maintaining regular contact with CM Sukhu and Congress MP Rajiv Shukla.
• Both observers flew to Shimla where met CM Sukhu and Vikramaditya Singh, following which the disgruntled minister said “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.”
• Later, Himachal Pradesh Congress chief Pratibha Virbhadra Singh said, “You all know that after the formation of the government, some things were not going well. We had informed the party high command about this to resolve it. More than a year has passed but no decision has been taken and due to which we are facing such a situation. Vikramaditya Singh has not resigned from the party and he has said that I have resigned, although the Chief Minister has not accepted it. This is for those who have come as observers. It’s up to them to decide what to do about it… let’s see what happens.”
• The Congress also initiated a disqualification motion against the six MLAs who cross-voted for the BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls. The six lawmakers, who were issued a show-cause notice for defying the whip for Rajya Sabha polls on Tuesday, appeared before the Speaker along with their lawyer and argued that they had not been provided all the relevant documents.
• Senior advocate Satya Pal Jain, who represented the six Congress MLAs before the Speaker, argued that they were only given the notice and the copy of the petition filed on Tuesday evening while other annexures were not supplied to them and sought seven-day time to reply to the disqualification petitions.
• However, Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania reserved his order on the issue.
• In a stunning upset a day earlier, six Congress MLAs, along with three independent lawmakers previously backing the government, cross-voted in the poll for a lone Rajya Sabha seat, leading to the victory of BJP’s Harsh Mahajan. This left has left Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on shaky ground.
• Congress MLAs who voted in favour of the BJP’s candidate were Sudhir Sharma (Dharamsala) and Rajinder Rana (Sujanpur), both ministerial aspirants; Inder Dutt Lakhanpal (Badsar); Ravi Thakur (Lahaul-Spiti); Chaitnaya Sharma (Gagret); and Devender Bhutto (Kutlehar).
• The six Congress lawmakers along with three independents are rumoured to be in touch with the BJP. They reach Haryana’s Panchkula in choppers on Wednesday afternoon.
• In a House of 68, the Congress has now a strength of 34 MLAs, the same number as the BJP.