Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday offered his resignation, according to reports. He offered his resignation to Congress observers rushed to the state amid political crisis after six MLAs rebelled against the party and PWD minister Vikramaditya Singh quit state Cabinet.
According to sources, a new Legislative Party leader is likely to be elected after a crucial meetings of Congress MLAs later today.
The development comes hours after the ruling Congress suffered humiliating defeat in Rajya Sabha elections despite having majority.
Meanwhile, BJP leader and LoP Jairam Thakur also claimed that CM Sukhu has presented his resignation inside 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…,” he said.
The Rajya Sabha elections brought the internet rift in the Himachal Pradesh government out in the open as six MLAs cross voted in favour of the BJP candidate.
Earlier today, PWD minister and former CM Virbhadra Singh’s son Vikramaditya Singh resigned from the state cabinet. Singh alleged the voices of MLAs were being stifled and that he has informed the party high command in this regard.
“I have always respected the leadership and the CM and contributed toward running the government with due discipline…There were from some quarters attempts to humiliate me in my functioning as a cabinet minister…I respect the CM but there has to be coordination among the council of ministers… This is a breach of trust, something that has led to where we are standing today,” said Singh.
Interestingly, Vikramaditya Singh had gone against the party line and attended the January 22 consecration ceremony of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
Meanwhile, Congress has rushed Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar and senior leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda to Himachal Pradesh to tackle the crisis.
“As per the directions of the Congress high command, I am reaching Himachal Pradesh. Also there is absolutely no need to indulge in any hearsay, as I am confident that Congress Party legislators will be loyal to the party and stay put with the mandate that has been accorded to them,” Shivakumar said.
He also questioned the BJP’s alleged attempts at acquiring power by crushing the public mandate.
“However, what should be questioned and worrisome is the extremes to which BJP is going in terms of acquiring power, deliberately attempting to crush democracy and public mandate in the process,” the troubleshooter Congress leader said.