Himachal Pradesh politics and the State Assembly witnessed unfolding of several quick developments on Wednesday after the surprising win of BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan in Rajya Sabha polls on Tuesday with the votes of Six Congress MLAs and three Independents MLAs.
As the biggest challenge for the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government was get the money bill ( the state budget for 2024 -25 ) on the last day of the budget session , the Congress managed to get it passed by a voice vote, after fifteen BJP MLAs were suspended from the house by the Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Pathania after pandemonium in the House .
The BJP and Congress MLAs pushed each other on the floor of the House and the Speaker suspended the fifteen BJP leaders for gross indiscipline. The Marshals had to be summoned to evict the opposition MLAs and a few MLAs complained and felt uncomfortable after Doctors had to be summoned.
The Vidhan Sabha was adjourned sine die after the passing of budget for 2024-25 and related Appropriation Bill authorizing the government to spend Rs 6,24,21.73 crore from the consolidated fund.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, whose leadership has been challenged by his own party MLAs, put on a brave face and said, “There is no question of tendering my resignation from the post of CM and his government would last a full five years as the Congress enjoys majority in state Assembly.”
One of the media advisors of the CM said, “The Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha has issued notices to six rebel MLAs for defying the party whip in the Rajya Sabha election, who are likely to be expelled from the party.”
The Six MLAs today came to the Vidhan Sabha and asked the speaker to supply them notices along with annexure.
Meanwhile, PWD Minister Vikrmaditya Singh , son of six times former CM Virbhdra Singh announced to resign from the Sukhu Cabinet. While talking to media persons he accused, “The present government couldn’t even find a place for installing the statue of his father Late Virbhadra Singh; the works proposed by me were stalled through bureaucrats and I was feeling ignored in the government.”
The Congress High Command is closely monitoring the political developments in the state and has sent two observers to seek a report.
The BJP leaders today met the state Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and urged him to “ask the CM to seek a trust vote as Congress government has lost majority.”
Former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said, “We are moving the HP High court against the suspension of 15 BJP MLAs from the Vidhan Sabha and asked the CM to resign as Congress government has lost majority in the state.”