In response to reports suggesting Vikramaditya Singh’s departure from the Congress to form a new party, Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated on Saturday, “I have no such information”. The development comes hours after state minister Vikramaditya sparked speculation among the grand old party leadership when he dropped his official designation from his Facebook bio.
#WATCH | On reports of Vikramaditya Singh to split from Congress to form another party with the name of Virbhadra Singh,” Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu says,” I have no such information.” pic.twitter.com/Nky58UB8OR
— ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2024
Addressing BJP’s allegations of the CM providing security to some Congress MLAs outside protocol, CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu told ANI, “BJP engaged in horsetrading and influenced cross-voting during Rajya Sabha elections. the opposition must make allegations, and that’s what they will do”.
#WATCH | On BJP alleging that the CM is providing security to some Congress MLAs outside of protocol, Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu says, “BJP indulged in horsetrading and got cross-voting done during Rajya Sabha elections…It is the opposition’s job to level… pic.twitter.com/q9LRN9BjIc
— ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2024
Earlier in the day, CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu convened a cabinet meeting in Shimla.
Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu holds a cabinet meeting in Shimla. pic.twitter.com/cwowxxEmyx
— ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2024
‘Servant Of Himachal’: Reads Vikramaditya Singh’s Facebook Bio
Vikramaditya Singh, a Himachal Pradesh minister, sparked speculation among the grand old party leadership when he dropped his official designation from his Facebook bio. Previously known as the PWD Minister and a member of the Indian National Congress, his biography now simply reads “servant of Himachal”.
Singh, the son of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, met with other dissident Congress legislators before leaving for New Delhi on Friday.
On Friday, Leader of Opposition and former CM Jairam Thakur claimed that the state government’s recent actions have damaged CM Singh Sukhu’s image across the state. He added that even if Congress manages to retain its state government, “it will not survive.”
Political developments intensified following the cross-voting incident during the Rajya Sabha polls on Tuesday in the hill state.
On Thursday, Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania disqualified six Congress MLAs who had cross-voted in the recent Rajya Sabha elections for allegedly defying a party whip during the state budget vote in the assembly.
Later in the evening, a notification announced that these six MLAs would no longer be members of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, effective February 29.
The disqualified MLAs plan to appeal in the Supreme Court against the orders, as stated by Rajinder Rana to PTI.
With the disqualification of the rebel legislators, the House’s effective strength decreased from 68 to 62, and the number of Congress MLAs fell from 40 to 34. The BJP holds 25 MLAs in the House.
This marks the first instance in Himachal Pradesh’s history of an MLA being disqualified under the anti-defection law.
