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In a surprising turn of events, eleven legislators from Himachal Pradesh, comprising six rebel members of the Congress party and three independent lawmakers, have reportedly ended their journey in Uttarakhand, governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The move comes amidst a brewing political crisis in Himachal Pradesh, with sources indicating a shift in political allegiances.
The Congress MLAs arrived at Dehradun’s Jolly Grant airport on Friday, where they were escorted to a resort in Singtali, approximately 35 km from Rishikesh. Notably, two BJP MLAs from Himachal Pradesh also accompanied them, raising eyebrows and sparking speculation about the political dynamics at play. The resort is under tight security, with a Haryana-numbered security vehicle stationed outside.
This development occurred just two days after Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was summoned by the Congress high command, adding an element of suspense to the unfolding situation.
The Congress MLAs identified as Rajinder Rana, Sudhir Sharma, Indradutt Lakhanpal, Ravi Thakur, Chaitanya Sharma, and Devendra Bhutto, along with independent legislators Ashish Sharma, Hoshiyar Singh, and KL Thakur, are currently staying in Uttarakhand.
The backdrop of this political maneuver traces back to last month’s Rajya Sabha elections, where six rebel Congress members and three independents sided with the BJP, causing embarrassment for the Congress. Despite holding a majority, the Congress candidate, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, faced defeat as BJP’s Harsh Mahajan emerged victorious. The Congress had vowed to investigate the cross-voting incident, leading to the disqualification of the six rebel MLAs, who subsequently challenged the Speaker’s decision in the Supreme Court.
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After the 2022 Assembly elections, the Congress held 40 seats, while the BJP secured 25 in the 68-member state assembly, with the remaining three seats held by independents.
A BJP insider shed light on the situation, stating, “Eleven MLAs from Himachal Pradesh…will stay in Rishikesh until the Supreme Court hears the Speaker’s decision of disqualification.” However, the Uttarakhand BJP state media in-charge, Manveer Singh Chauhan, claimed ignorance, stating, “We don’t have any information of Himachal Congress MLAs camping in Uttarakhand. If that has happened, it’s their internal matter.”
In response, the Congress labeled the move a “constitutional sin” by the BJP, questioning the expenses incurred on air services, luxurious hotels, and security for the rebel MLAs. BJP MLA Bikram Singh Thakur defended their presence, asserting, “We haven’t come here on the expenditure of the Congress or the state government.”
As the political drama unfolds, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed concern over the situation, emphasizing the alleged removal of MLAs from a hotel in Panchkula and questioning the security measures enforced. He lamented, “What kind of democracy is this in which they have been kept under CRPF security? Horse trading weakens democracy. We have been serving people. None of the MLAs are in touch with me.” The unfolding events continue to captivate political observers, leaving many to ponder the implications of this unexpected shift in political dynamics.
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