Following the surprising turn of events where six Congress MLAs supported the BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls in Himachal Pradesh, the party's leadership swiftly moved to address the concerns of the discontented legislators.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge took action by appointing senior leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda and D K Shivakumar to engage with the six MLAs, who reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the leadership style of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and are advocating for his replacement.
Sources indicate that former Haryana chief minister Hooda and Karnataka deputy chief minister Shivakumar will arrive in Shimla early Wednesday to assess the situation as the Congress-led government in the state faces a critical juncture.
The six MLAs had departed for Haryana on Tuesday after participating in the Rajya Sabha polls. It is understood that they are in communication with the BJP, indicating a potential crisis looming over the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh.
The appointment of observers coincided with reports of the BJP's intention to meet Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla early Wednesday ahead of the assembly session.
Sources suggest that BJP Legislature Party leaders, led by Jai Ram Thakur, will meet the Governor and demand a floor test, alleging that the Congress government no longer commands a majority in the assembly.
In a significant setback for the ruling Congress, the BJP clinched victory in Himachal Pradesh's lone Rajya Sabha seat on Tuesday, with its candidate Harsh Mahajan defeating Congress veteran Abhishek Manu Singhvi. This outcome seemingly paves the way for a potential no-confidence motion in the assembly.
The voting ended in a deadlock, with both the Congress and BJP candidates securing 34 votes each, indicating defection by at least six Congress MLAs. Subsequently, the result was determined by drawing lots, according to officials.
In the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly, the Congress holds 40 seats while the BJP has 25 legislators. The remaining three seats are held by independents.
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