Himachal Congress MLA Vikramaditya keeps party guessing on resignation, mother Pratibha justifies grouse of 6 rebel legislators
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TNR Desk
The political drama in Himachal Pradesh refuses to die down as Shimla-rural Congress MLA Vikramaditya Singh has been keeping his party leadership guessing regarding his resignation.
Son of six-term late Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, Vikramaditya tendered his resignation as PWD minister in the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu cabinet on Wednesday (February 28, 2024). He even stayed away from Chief Minister Sukhu’s breakfast meeting for all Congress MLAs at his official residence Oak Over on Thursday morning.
While Vikramaditya has indicated that he won’t press for the acceptance of his resignation, his absence from the critical meeting raises questions about the stability of the Congress in the state. Notably, 32 MLAs attended the breakfast meeting even as Speaker Kuldeep Pathania disqualified six rebel MLAs who cross-voted for the BJP in the Rajya Sabha election.
“I had said that I won’t press for its acceptance. Talks are underway. Observers are here and they are trying to set everything right,” said Vikramaditya, maintaining a cautious tone when questioned about the Speaker’s decision to disqualify the rebel MLAs.
Vikramaditya’s mother and Himachal Congress president Pratibha Singh, on the other hand, justified the grievances of the disqualified MLAs, emphasising the importance of listening to party members’ concerns. “Definitely, why not? When it has been more than a year and you take no cognisance or listen to them, it is natural for them to be upset,” she asserted.
The disqualification of the six Congress MLAs significantly alters the political landscape in Himachal Pradesh, reducing the house strength from 68 to 62 members. With the Congress now holding 34 MLAs and the BJP, along with independents, totaling 28, the balance of power hangs delicately. In the wake of these developments, the future trajectory of the Congress hinges on its ability to maintain cohesion and address internal dissent effectively.
Earlier in the day, Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania declared, “Six MLAs who contested on the Congress symbol attracted provisions of anti-defection law against themselves… I declare that the six MLAs cease to be members of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly with immediate effect.”
