Last Updated: February 28, 2024, 22:14 IST
Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda – appointed as the Congress Observers of Himachal Pradesh – met Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (Image: ANI)
The budget was passed in the absence of BJP members as 15 of them were suspended while the remaining 10 staged a walkout in protest against the suspension of its members.
Amid political turmoil in Congress’ Himachal Pradesh unit, the Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government managed to retain power on Wednesday with the successful passage of the state budget 2024-25. The Congress high command was also able to pacify party leader Vikramaditya Singh, who stepped down as Public Works Minister earlier today, with him withdrawing his resignation
The political scenario in Himachal changed dramatically after the defeat of Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi in the Rajya Sabha elections and the resignation of Vikramaditya Singh— son of the late former Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh.
However, after meeting Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda– who are appointed as the Congress Observers of Himachal Pradesh– the PWD Minister said, “There is no crisis in the (Himachal Pradesh) government” and he will not press his resignation till the outcome of the observers’ report is filed.
Himachal Congress Political Crisis: Top Points
- The Congress on Wednesday initiated a disqualification motion against the six MLAs who cross-voted for the BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls. The six lawmakers, who were issued a show-cause notice for defying the whip for Rajya Sabha polls on Tuesday, appeared before the Speaker along with their lawyer and argued that they had not been provided all the relevant documents.
- Senior advocate Satya Pal Jain, who represented the six Congress MLAs before the Speaker, argued that they were only given the notice and the copy of the petition filed on Tuesday evening while other annexures were not supplied to them and sought seven-day time to reply to the disqualification petitions.
- However, Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania reserved his order on the issue.
- In a major relief for the Sukhvinder Sukhu government, the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha was adjourned sine die on Wednesday after the passing of the budget for 2024-25. With this, the Congress Govt strengthened its position, with no immediate threat for the next three months.
- The budget was passed in the absence of BJP members as 15 of them were suspended while the remaining 10 staged a walkout in protest against the suspension of its members.
- BJP’s Satpal Singh Satti said the party MLAs were suspended as the government did not enjoy the majority in the house to pass the financial bill. Nine MLAs, including six Congress MLAs and three independents, who cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha polls held on Tuesday, were also not present in the House.
- The budget was passed with a voice vote without discussion on cut motions and the Speaker applied guillotine, following which the Vidhan Sabha was adjourned a day ahead of schedule.
