With several of Himachal Pradesh BJP MLAs set to be deputed for election duty in neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir, the saffron party is expected to lose some steam as it takes on ruling Congress during the state Assembly’s monsoon session beginning Tuesday (August 27, 2024).
Among the MLAs expected to be deployed for poll duty are Sudhir Sharma (Dharamshala), DS Thakur (Dalhousie), Vipin Parmar (Sullah), Ranbir Singh Nikka (Nurpur) and Prakash Rana (Jogindernagar). The elections to the legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir, being organised after 10 years, will be held in three phases on September 18, 25 and October 1.
As the elections are being seen as a referendum on the Narendra Modi government’s decision to abrogate Article 370 that allowed special status to Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP is leaving no stone unturned to ensure the victory of its candidates in the UT.
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Thus, Himachal Pradesh BJP MLAs were being deputed, the state having its crucial monsoon session of the Assembly notwithstanding, said a party leader. The House session is scheduled from August 27 to September 9.
The opposition BJP will be looking to corner the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government on several critical matters, including the rollback of water and power subsidy, closure and merger of about 500 schools, change in rules for free travel for police personnel in HRTC buses and delay in payment of dearness allowance and pay hike arrears for employees.
The session is also particularly notable as it follows a series of political upheavals during the previous budget session, including the expulsion of six rebel Congress MLAs and the resignation of three independent MLAs.
Since then, two by-elections have resulted in the election of nine new MLAs, including Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s wife Kamlesh Thakur. The current Assembly now consists of 40 Congress and 28 BJP MLAs, prompting changes in seating arrangements for the monsoon session.
