Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu tendered his resignation amidst growing dissent among Congress legislators, plunging the State Government into uncertainty.
Adding to the crisis, Public Work Department Minister Vikramaditya Singh, son of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, resigned citing neglect of MLAs’ opinions within the party. He attributed the outcome of the Rajya Sabha polls, wherein the ruling party was defeated by the BJP, to systemic issues within the government dating back to its inception last year. Singh expressed disappointment at what he perceived as a lack of recognition for his father, who served as Chief Minister of the State six times.
Singh lamented, “Despite my father’s significant contributions, which led to the formation of this government, there was no acknowledgment in the form of a statue on Mall Road. This lack of recognition reflects poorly on the respect accorded to my late father by the current administration.”
Opposition leader Jairam Thakur, accompanied by BJP MLAs, approached Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, demanding a floor test, asserting CM Sukhu had lost the mandate to govern.
Thakur insisted BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan’s victory in the Rajya Sabha elections as evidence of the Congress Government’s waning legitimacy.
In response to the turmoil, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra intervened, briefing Congress president Kharge and engaging with key stakeholders including Vikramaditya Singh, closely monitoring the situation.
Senior leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda and D K Shivakumar were dispatched as observers to manage the crisis in Himachal Pradesh.
In a stunning reversal for Congress, BJP emerged victorious in the Rajya Sabha polls, with significant cross-voting leading to BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan’s win over Congress’s Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
The defection of six Congress MLAs and support from Independents further weakened CM Sukhu’s position.
The BJP secured a resounding victory in Uttar Pradesh, while cross-voting dealt a blow to Opposition Samajwadi Party.
In Karnataka, amidst chaos, Congress managed to secure three out of four Rajya Sabha seats, but instances of cross-voting added to the upheaval.
The political drama surrounding the Rajya Sabha polls underscores the BJP’s growing dominance and leaves the Opposition fragmented and vulnerable ahead of the looming Lok Sabha elections.
