Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday rejected reports of his resignation and accused the BJP of spreading rumours to break our MLAs.
“BJP is spreading rumours of my resignation in an attempt to break our MLAs, but the Congress is united,” he said.
The chief minister said that he will not get scared and exuded confidence that the Budget will be presented today itself.
“I am not someone who will get scared and I can say this with guarantee, that Congress is going to win when the Budget will be presented. The budget will be passed today,” he added.
The remarks came shortly after reports surfaced that he has offered his resignation to the Congress observers. BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in Himachal Pradesh, Jairam Thakur also claimed that CM Sukhu has presented his resignation in the House.
“This government has lost all the moral rights to stay in power. As far as I have been informed, CM Sukhu has also presented his resignation inside the House. Maybe the high command has asked him I am not sure…,” Thakur said.
The Sukhu-led Congress government in Himachal Pradesh found itself struggling for its survival after six MLAs rebelled against the government and cross voted in favour of BJP candidate in Rajya Sabha election held on Tuesday.
The six MLAs, along with three independents who supported the Congress government in Himachal were taken away to a Panchkula resort by the BJP.
In another setback, Vikramaditya Singh, Himachal PWD minister and son of former CM Virbhadra Singh, resigned form the Sukhu Cabinet, claiming the voices of MLAs were being stifled.
Untill yesterday, the Congress had 40 MLAs with additional support from three independents. However, after the rebellion by the six MLAs, CM Sukhu appears to have the support of only 34 MLAs. This could come down even further as Vikramaditya Singh has also expressed his displeasure with the chief minister.
BJP leader Jairam Thakur, meanwhile, has also claimed that more Congress MLAs are in contact with the saffron party. Thakur said that CM Sukhu has lost the right to continue as the chief minister.