BJP Upsets Congress in Himachal Pradesh Rajya Sabha Elections, Government Faces Crisis

BJP Upsets Congress in Himachal Pradesh Rajya Sabha Elections, Government Faces Crisis

In a significant upset, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured victory in the sole Rajya Sabha seat up for grabs in Himachal Pradesh, dealing a severe blow to the Congress government. Despite being a minority in the Himachal Pradesh assembly, the BJP strategically outmaneuvered the Congress, leading to calls for the resignation of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu by the Leader of the Opposition, Jairam Thakur.

The Chief Minister faced internal challenges during the Rajya Sabha elections as six Congress MLAs cross-voted, resulting in an embarrassing defeat for the ruling party. The Congress, holding 40 seats out of 68 in the assembly, now faces the potential threat of a no-confidence motion due to the unexpected turn of events.

On Wednesday, Jairam Thakur, accompanied by BJP legislative party members, met with Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla at the Raj Bhawan to discuss the political situation. Thakur accused the government of avoiding a division of votes during the financial bill and raised concerns about the conduct of Marshals towards BJP MLAs.

The Himachal Pradesh assembly witnessed disruptions on Tuesday, leading to its adjournment for the day. Thakur highlighted the government’s alleged evasion of the division of votes and questioned its legitimacy to remain in power. The political turmoil escalated with the expulsion of 15 BJP MLAs, including Jairam Thakur, from the assembly session on Wednesday, further intensifying the crisis. The developments indicate a precarious situation for the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh.