Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, asserting that their attempts to destabilize the elected Congress government in Himachal Pradesh had faltered. Amid the ongoing political turmoil in the state, Ramesh credited the intervention of Congress leaders and the swift actions of party observers for restoring stability.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Ramesh emphasized that despite media speculation, the BJP’s top leadership had faltered in Himachal. He praised the Congress leadership and observers for effectively managing the situation, asserting that the Congress holds firm control over the state.
Ramesh highlighted the failure of the saffron camp to dislodge the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government, attributing the Congress’ resilience to the overwhelming support of the people of Himachal Pradesh.
He accused the BJP of resorting to tactics of monetary influence and power games to undermine the democratically elected Congress government. However, Ramesh asserted that the Congress’ unwavering support from the people had thwarted these efforts.
The political unrest in Himachal Pradesh erupted when the BJP alleged that the Sukhu-led government lacked a majority after the BJP candidate won the state’s Rajya Sabha seat. Despite this claim, Chief Minister Sukhu reaffirmed his government’s majority and commitment to completing its full term.
To address the situation, the Congress deployed observers including Bhupesh Baghel, DK Shivakumar, and Bhupinder Hooda to assess the sentiments of party MLAs. However, uncertainty persisted as Congress MLA Vikramaditya Singh’s resignation and subsequent withdrawal kept party leaders on edge.
In a recent development, Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania disqualified six Congress MLAs for cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha polls, citing provisions of the anti-defection law. This decision further solidified the Congress’ position in the state assembly.
Despite the challenges, the Congress remains resilient with 40 MLAs, while the BJP holds 25 seats in the 68-member assembly, with the remaining three seats held by independents.
As the political landscape evolves in Himachal Pradesh, Jairam Ramesh’s taunt serves as a reminder of the Congress’ enduring strength and the failure of BJP’s attempts to disrupt governance in the state.