In a major setback to the Congress party, Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department Minister Vikramaditya Singh on Wednesday resigned from his post. The announcement has made the cracks apparent in the ruling Congress party which lost its sole Rajya Sabha seat to the BJP on Tuesday.
"...Someone who was the CM of the state for 6 times, due to whom this Government was formed in the state - they could not find a small space for his statue at Mall Road. This is the respect this Government has shown to my late father. We are emotional people, we have nothing to do with posts...But this is very unfortunate...I am very hurt, not politically but emotionally...," Vikramaditya Singh said after resigning from his post.
Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh resigns
The Rajya Sabha election was spoilt for the Congress due to cross-voting by some of its members. Now Congress party is scrambling to keep its members together to prevent the fall of its government. While the Bharatiya Janata Party is demanding the resignation of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, who is set to visit Himachal Pradesh said, "It is not right, this type of horse-trading, someday it might boomerang...I am confident that all our legislators will be loyal to the party...".
Congress has appointed DK Shivkumar and Bhupinder Singh Hooda as observers for Himachal Pradesh. The two leaders have been tasked to resolve the issues.
Congress seeks disqualification of 6 MLAs who cross-voted, say sources
Shivakumar has lived his political life with the 'troubleshooter' image ever since he hosted Congress MLAs from Maharashtra in Bengaluru as the Vilasrao Deshmukh-led government faced a similar crisis back in 2001.
On Wednesday, Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania suspended 15 BJP MLAs, including Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, and adjourned the House.
Himachal Assembly: 15 BJP MLAs including Jairam Thakur expelled. Details here
They were suspended for misbehavior and shouting slogans in the House.
On Tuesday BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan defeated Congress stalwart Abhishek Manu Singhvi in the Rajya Sabha election due to cross-voting by MLAs of the state's ruling Congress party.
"Ever since the BJP came to power, the misuse of money and machinery...agencies are questioning as if it is their frontal organisation. Due to all this, cross-voting has begun and the switching of parties has started. This is nothing new. It is unfortunate that we could not make a renowned candidate Abhishek Singhvi win the election, we are disheartened. Two of our senior leaders have gone there, I am confident that they will probe the situation and get all the reports on the spot and give it to the high command," Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said.
On the other hand Harsh Mahajan slammed the Speaker's action and told media, ??Congress Government is toppling. So such attempts are being made - to suspend them. These are delay tactics and are followed in every Vidhan Sabha...Congress has dismantled from here. All the attempts they make now will fail".
Milestone Alert!
Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world ??? Click here to know more.
Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed ?? it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
Related Premium Stories
Mint Explainer: How Indian volunteers ended up fighting for Russia
Indian politics is becoming increasingly partisan. We have the data to prove it.
The onion peel that promises a sugar high
A decade of flip-flops on farmers?? issues despite full-majority government
??Revdi?? or genuine welfare? India gives its verdict
Mint Explainer: Loss-making firms' political donations in focus post SC ruling
The news sources that Indians will trust and distrust this poll season
New avatar likely for GST compensation cess
Qatar reprieve for ex-navy men puts spotlight on India??s strong Gulf ties
The political hot potatoes on which urban India disagrees with the BJP
Explore Premium
Catch all the Politics News and Updates on Live Mint. Check all the latest action on Budget 2024 here. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.
More Less
Published: 28 Feb 2024, 12:24 PM IST
Topics You May Be Interested In himachal pradesh himachal pradesh cong himachal pradesh cm himachal pradesh bjp himachal pradesh politics himachal pradesh political crisis himachal pradesh latest updates himachal pradesh political developments congress in himachal pradesh Vikramaditya Singh congress mla dk shivakumar horse trading