TNR Desk
Is the BJP in the final stages of toppling the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government in Himachal Pradesh? At least that appears from the latest developments that have been happening in the political landscape of the hill state.
Sources have revealed that the BJP high command has instructed its top leaders in Himachal Pradesh, including former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, who also serves as the Assembly leader of the opposition, and state unit president Rajeev Bindal, to remain in Shimla. This directive is perceived as a preparatory measure to establish communication with the Raj Bhavan in the state capital should the BJP succeed in gathering adequate numbers to dislodge the Sukhu regime.
The Himachal BJP has been buoyant following the remarkable victory of its candidate Harsh Mahajan in the recent Rajya Sabha elections. Despite possessing only 25 MLAs, the opposition party secured triumph over Abhishek Manu Singhvi of the Congress. The latter, assured of the support of its 40 legislators along with three Independent MLAs, suffered a setback when six MLAs from the ruling party, as well as the three Independent legislators, backed Mahajan. With both Mahajan and Singhvi deadlocked at 34 votes, the BJP candidate emerged victorious through lottery system.
The six Congress MLAs who have taken the rebellion path are Rajinder Singh Rana (Sujanpur), Sudhir Sharma (Dharamshala), Chaitanya Sharma (Gagret), Ravi Thakur (Lahaul-Spiti), Inder Dutt Lakhanpal (Barsar) and Davinder Bhutto (Kutlehar). All the six have been disqualified from the Vidhan Sabha by Speaker Kuldeep Pathania under the anti-defection law.
The all-powerful PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh meeting the rebel MLAs at a Chandigarh hotel where they have been putting up under tight central security has led credence to the speculation of BJP orchestrating the downfall of the Sukhu government. Vikramaditya’s mother Pratibha Singh, who is an MP from Mandi as well as the Himachal Congress president, too backed the disqualified MLAs saying they should have been given a chance to explain their side. Ever since, Vikramaditya has dropped Congress as well as PWD Minister from his social Facebook profile, replacing it with ‘Himachal ka sevak’.
A cryptic tweet by former minister Sudhir Sharma too hinted at the imminent fall of the Congress government. “All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty together again,” wrote Sudhir on his X handle.
Is BJP poised to topple Himachal Congress government? High command tells former CM Jai Ram, state president Bindal not to leave Shimla
