Himachal Pradesh In Crisis: Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Likely To Resign - Who Might Take Over?

In a major development, reports suggest that Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is likely to tender his resignation on Wednesday amidst resentment from MLAs within the Congress party in the state.

Meanwhile, there are reports that the new Chief Minister will be announced soon after Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu steps down from his position.

Unveiling the crisis in Himachal Pradesh - How it all started?

A dramatic Rajya Sabha poll

On Tuesday (27 February), the Rajya Sabha elections in Himachal Pradesh saw the MLAs casting their votes, with the expectation that Congress' Abhishek Manu Singhvi would secure victory. The Congress, with 40 MLAs in the 68-member Assembly, anticipated a favourable outcome, contrasting the BJP's 25 seats, with the remaining three held by Independents.

However, as the counting commenced, the Congress faced a setback when the votes resulted in a tie, with both the Congress and BJP candidates receiving 34 votes each. This indicated that at least six Congress MLAs had voted against the party. Consequently, the result was determined through a draw of lots, leading to the victory of the BJP's Harsh Mahajan.

Following the BJP's success, allegations were made by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who claimed that the BJP, along with the CRPF and Haryana Police, had "abducted" the MLAs and taken them to Haryana's Panchkula.

A video clip surfaced online purportedly showing Himachal MLAs in about five cars outside a government guesthouse in BJP-ruled Haryana's Panchkula. However, Congress MLA Ravi Thakur, believed to be one of the six who voted for BJP instead of Congress, stated to news agency PTI that "he could go anywhere."

Reports indicate that Congress MLAs Rajinder Rana, Sudhir Sharma, Chaitanya Sharma, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Davinder Kumar Bhutto, and Ravi Thakur, along with Independent legislators Ashish Sharma, KL Thakur, and Hoshyar Singh, voted for Mahajan.

While the BJP celebrated its victory, Abhishek Manu Singhvi accepted his defeat during a press conference, emphasizing the need for his party to introspect and raising concerns about principles. Chief Minister Sukhu also expressed disappointment, alleging cross-voting by several MLAs and asserting that the people of Himachal Pradesh would not tolerate such actions.

BJP's call for no-confidence

Following the BJP's triumph, it was emphasized that the Congress appeared to have lost the majority in the Assembly. It was stated by Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur that, based on the day's results, the CM should resign as he no longer possessed the moral right to remain in power. He mentioned that a motion of no-confidence would be brought soon.

Mahajan, the winner of the Rajya Sabha polls, also conveyed to the media that the state government was currently in the minority. He highlighted the discontent among fence-sitters within the government and predicted its downfall due to internal dissatisfaction. Himachal BJP chief Rajiv Bindal additionally called for the CM's resignation following Singhvi's defeat.

Meanwhile, Congress' top leadership swung into action to pacify the disgruntled lawmakers. Bhupinder Singh Hooda and D K Shivakumar were deployed to engage with the six MLAs, who were reported to be "disappointed" with the working style of Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and were seeking his replacement, as per PTI reports.

Why Sukhu and Congress Could Not Survive?

• The loss suffered by the Congress in Himachal Pradesh places the 14-month-old government in crisis.
• It serves as a test for Sukhu's leadership and the Congress party's capability to unite its members and ensure the approval of the budget, thus preventing a potential governmental crisis.
• The Rajya Sabha defeat is not only a setback for the Congress but also for the INDIA bloc ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha elections.
• It provides the BJP with an opportunity to intensify its 'abki paar 400 paar' narrative.
• Home Minister Amit Shah remarked that the Congress and the INDIA opposition bloc are experiencing disintegration as they struggle to maintain unity among their members.
• Shah stated that the INDIA bloc, in reality, was never cohesive and is merely a creation of the media.
• He further added that the primary ambition of their leaders is to see their children assume roles like prime minister and chief ministers.

Vikramaditya Singh- Can He Be The Next CM Of Himachal Pradesh?

In a fresh setback for the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh, Vikramaditya Singh, a state minister and the son of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, announced his resignation on Wednesday. Singh's decision was announced at a press conference held following the declaration of the Himachal Pradesh Rajya Sabha election result on Tuesday.

He stated, "Under the current circumstances, it is not appropriate for me to continue as a part of the government. Therefore, I have decided to resign from the Council of Ministers. I am stepping down as a minister."

Who is Vikramaditya Singh?

Vikramaditya Singh, an Indian politician representing the Shimla Rural constituency, hails from a prestigious lineage. He is the son of former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh, and his mother, Pratibha Singh, serves as a Member of Parliament from the Mandi Lok Sabha Constituency. Born into the royal Rajput family of Bushahr, Vikramaditya Singh was enthroned as the titular king of the erstwhile princely state of Bushahr, situated in the Shimla district.

Vikramaditya Singh Educational Qualifications

Vikramaditya Singh completed his schooling at Bishop Cotton School in Shimla, followed by his graduation in History from Hansraj College and his Masters in the same subject from St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi. His political career was initiated in 2013.

Vikramaditya Singh's Political Career

Vikramaditya Singh's involvement in state politics began in 2013 when he joined the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee. He served as the president of the Himachal Pradesh State Youth Congress from 2013 to 2017. In 2017, Vikramaditya Singh was elected as the MLA for the Shimla Rural Constituency in the HP Legislative Assembly, and he retained this position in 2022. On January 8, 2024, he assumed the role of Minister of PWD, Youth Services and Sports, and Urban Development in the Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu Ministry.