In anticipation of the forthcoming legislative session, Chief Executive Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu of Himachal Pradesh has orchestrated a convocation described as a ‘breakfast colloquy’ for all members of the Congress party in Shimla this Thursday. This rendezvous holds considerable significance, its informality emphasized by party MLA Ashish Butail who remarked, “Let us witness the unfolding of events.” According to Congress MLA Sudarshan Singh Bablu, the Chief Minister extended an invitation to partake in a morning repast, adding, “The nature of our deliberations remains to be seen. We were notified last night. The governance mantle shall persist under the stewardship of the Chief Executive.”
Preceding this, Congress legislators individually engaged with central observers DK Shivakumar and Bhupendra Hooda on Wednesday. Subsequently, these observers are poised to submit their comprehensive findings to the party’s upper echelons. Meanwhile, Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly is expected to deliver a ruling on the fate of six dissident Congress MLAs who engaged in cross-voting during the Rajya Sabha polls. A petition, filed under the anti-defection law by Congress MLA and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harsh Wardhan Chauhan, seeks the disqualification of the aforementioned six MLAs.
In a preceding instance on Wednesday, the Speaker elucidated that the Parliamentary Affairs Minister instigated proceedings against the six Congress MLAs due to the anti-defection law’s application. A crisis has befallen the Congress-led government as six MLAs defected to the BJP. With 40 MLAs in their fold, the Congress contends with 25 BJP members in the 68-member state assembly, the remaining three seats occupied by independents. Notably, the Congress secured the passage of the state budget after the Speaker suspended 15 BJP MLAs for allegedly causing a commotion in the chamber, an action sharply criticized by the BJP.
Having initially possessed 25 MLAs, the BJP’s count surged to 34 following the Rajya Sabha vote. This precipitated a precarious situation for the government, necessitating a reduction in the number of BJP MLAs. BJP leader Jairam Thakur asserted, “Fifteen MLAs, including myself, were suspended to safeguard the Congress government. Subsequent to our suspension, the budget sailed through.” The BJP contends that the Congress, having lost its majority in the Assembly, is bereft of the moral authority to remain in power.