political-uncertainty-over-in-hp-cm-sukhu-emerges-stronger

There are no more clouds of political uncertainty in Himachal Pradesh and the Congress government led by Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has finally emerged stronger, winning six out of nine by-polls forced upon the state by rebellion in Congress and then resignation by Independent MLAs. 

 

Chief Minister Sukhu too has gained strength as he came out unscathed in a massive challenge put up to his leadership from different corners over the last four months, silencing all the critics. 

 

The victory of CM’s wife, Kamlesh Thakur, in the Dehra Assembly by-poll with a good margin of over 9000 votes has left his rivals within the party and the state wondering over the smart move.

 

It is for the first time in Himachal Pradesh that any Chief Minister and his wife would be members of the same State Legislative Assembly. Another first is that there would only be Congress and BJP MLAs in the Assembly now, no Independents or any other third party.

 

The Congress, which formed the government by securing 40 Assembly seats out of 68 against BJP’s 25 and three Independents in 2022 Assembly polls, had critically slipped to the figure of 34  just after 12 months of rule in February 2024, when six rebel Congress MLAs were disqualified from the state Assembly. 

 

The six MLAs, who belonged to Hamirpur, Una, Kangra, and Lahaul & Spiti had revolted against the government and had not only cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha elections, helping BJP win the seat although with the draw of lots, but had defied the party whip in Assembly when the budget was to be passed. They were disqualified as per the provisions of the anti-defection law.

 

The BJP not only got hold of the Congress rebels, who revolted against the government and spit venom against the Chief Minister for their considerations, but it also managed to get the Independent MLAs to resign and join the BJP.

 

While the BJP was seemingly aiming to topple the government by cashing in on voice of dissent in the Congress government, some rivals of Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, which included Pradesh Congress Committee Chief, Pratibha Singh, too tried to air grievances against him in the midst of that crisis.

 

However, all the efforts to corner the Congress government and the Chief Minister fell flat with Sukhu playing his cards well.

 

Right from the beginning, while the Congress strategy was aimed at staying ahead in the number game in the Assembly and it ensured that the party rebels, who were inclined towards BJP, were ousted, the timing of the acceptance of the resignation of three Independent MLAs too suited the government. The six by-polls were held with the Lok Sabha elections on June 1 and the remaining three on July 10.

 

Sailing successfully through over four and a half months of crisis, Congress is now back to its original number of 40 in the state Assembly, BJP has risen from 25 to 28 and there are no Independents now, as all the three resigned from the Assembly, joined BJP and sought re-election in by-poll on BJP ticket. Two of them lost the by-poll.

 

The BJP, which registered a spectacular victory in Lok Sabha polls winning all four seats third consecutive time, did add to its numbers in the Assembly by winning three by-polls, going up from 25 to 28, but got badly exposed in its motive to topple the duly elected Congress government in Himachal since February this year.

 

“People have rejected the money power and BJP’s game to topple the state government unethically. People have reposed faith in the Congress party, which it had elected in 2022 for five years,” said Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. 

 

“The results of by-polls are a clear signal message that horse trading would not help and that voters in Himachal Pradesh cannot be taken for granted,” Sukhu added.

 

All said and done, while the people of Himachal Pradesh are now looking to the Congress government to take the state to a new high with good governance and vision to solve the issue of rising unemployment, they have a lot of expectations from the BJP to play the role of constructive opposition in the state.

 

“Himachal always sets an example. People here are literate and aware. They vote very cautiously. No party should try to defeat the mandate of the people with tactics aimed at grabbing power,” the elderly people feel.