Disqualified Himachal Pradesh Congress MLA Rajinder Rana criticized Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu over the disqualification of six MLAs who voted for the BJP candidate in the recent Rajya Sabha polls. Rana accused Sukhu of having a narrow mindset and heart.
Rana announced plans to challenge the speaker's decision in court, claiming that the disqualification was unjust and made under pressure. He expressed dissatisfaction with Sukhu's leadership, alleging that nine more party legislators were unhappy with his management style.
In interviews, Rana accused Sukhu of favoritism and manipulation, labeling him as "liar number one." He claimed that elected representatives, especially ministers, felt suffocated and humiliated under Sukhu's administration.
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Rana asserted that MLAs who opposed the party faced police actions against their supporters and business shutdowns. He highlighted the public scrutiny of Himachal Pradesh's political situation and vowed to protect the state's dignity.
The political crisis arose when the BJP claimed a majority in Himachal Pradesh following its victory in the state's lone Rajya Sabha seat, accusing the Sukhu-led government of minority status due to cross-voting. However, Sukhu maintained that his government was in the majority and would complete its term.
ALSO READ: Six Congress MLAs disqualified from Himachal Assembly for cross-voting for BJP
Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania disqualified the six Congress MLAs who cross-voted, citing provisions of the anti-defection law. The disqualified MLAs include Sudhir Sharma, Rajinder Rana, Davinder K Bhutto, Ravi Thakur, Chaitanya Sharma, and Inder Dutt Lakhanpal.