1. Himachal Pradesh’s political landscape saw upheaval as the Congress lost its only Rajya Sabha seat.
2. Internal dissent brewed within the party post the biennial Upper House elections.
3. Jairam Thakur, a prominent BJP leader, convened a crucial meeting with Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla at Raj Bhavan.
Dalhousie, Feb 28: The political landscape in Himachal Pradesh witnessed a dramatic shift as the Congress faced not only the loss of the lone Rajya Sabha seat but also potential dissent within its ranks following the recent biennial elections to the Upper House.
Amidst this tumult, Jairam Thakur, a senior BJP leader and the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, held a crucial meeting with Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla at Raj Bhavan.
Speculation mounts that the Sukhvinder Sukhu-led government might face a trust vote soon, as sources reveal the BJP’s demand for a floor test, arguing that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu’s mandate to govern has been undermined.
Addressing reporters post-meeting, Jairam Thakur emphasized, “BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan emerged victorious in the Rajya Sabha elections. Presently, the Congress government lacks the moral authority to remain in power.”
The recent Rajya Sabha polls across three states unleashed a flurry of political theatrics, with cross-voting significantly influencing the outcome.
This has solidified the BJP’s footing ahead of the looming Lok Sabha elections while leaving the opposition INDIA bloc in a more precarious position.
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CRISIS IN HIMACHAL PRADESH POST-RAJYA SABHA POLLS:
In a remarkable upset for the ruling Congress in Himachal Pradesh, the BJP clinched victory. Harsh Mahajan of the BJP defeated Congress’s Abhishek Manu Singhvi in a closely contested battle that culminated in a tie, with both candidates securing 34 votes each, indicating substantial cross-voting within Congress ranks.
The BJP’s triumph, buoyed by the support of six Congress lawmakers and three independents previously aligned with the government, has left Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu teetering on unstable ground.
In response, the Congress high command dispatched senior leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda and D K Shivakumar to engage with the disgruntled MLAs.
These six MLAs, after casting their votes in the Rajya Sabha polls, departed Shimla for Haryana and are reportedly in communication with the BJP.
Reports of the BJP’s plans to meet Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and demand a floor test have further exacerbated political turmoil in Himachal Pradesh.
In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP secured a resounding victory, winning all eight Rajya Sabha seats it contested. The opposition Samajwadi Party (SP) suffered a setback, with one of its three nominees facing defeat due to cross-voting by some legislators.
Amid concerns over cross-voting and resignations, SP President Akhilesh Yadav issued a stern warning against deviating from the party line.
BJP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya criticized Yadav’s decision to field a third candidate, asserting that he lacked the requisite support.
Despite the upheaval, the ruling Congress managed to secure three out of four Rajya Sabha seats in Karnataka. Elected members include Ajay Maken, G C Chandrasekhar, and Syed Naseer Hussain, all from Congress, along with Narayansa K Bhandage of the BJP.
Karnataka also witnessed instances of cross-voting chaos, with BJP MLA S T Somashekar voting for Ajay Maken, while another legislator abstained.
Bolstered by the sweeping victory in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP exuded confidence in securing all 80 Lok Sabha seats in the impending elections.
Senior BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi, a victorious candidate, declared, “This is undoubtedly a harbinger of the future. It will be 80 out of 80 (Lok Sabha seats) in UP, and over 400 for the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) nationwide.”
