Six Congress MLAs disqualified from Himachal Assembly for cross-voting for BJP

In a recent turn of events, six Congress members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) in Himachal Pradesh were disqualified for cross-voting in favor of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the Rajya Sabha elections. This disqualification was enforced under the anti-defection law. Despite this setback, the Congress-led government, under the leadership of Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, managed to stabilize the political situation.

Passing Budget and Minister's decision provide relief

Despite the turmoil caused by the cross-voting incident and a minister's revolt, the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government successfully passed the budget. Additionally, Minister Vikramaditya Singh announced that he would refrain from pressing for resignation until discussions with party leaders concluded, offering a respite to the Congress.

In the Rajya Sabha election, BJP's Harsh Mahajan emerged victorious against Congress stalwart Abhishek Manu Singhvi through a draw of lots, following a tie where both candidates secured 34 votes each. The cross-voting by six Congress MLAs intensified the political turbulence in the state.

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The Himachal Pradesh Assembly speaker, while withholding his decision on the Congress's plea to disqualify the six MLAs, expelled 15 BJP MLAs, including Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, for alleged misconduct.

Amidst speculations, Chief Minister Sukhu clarified that he had not been asked to resign by the high command or any other authority, affirming the Congress government's determination to complete its full term.

Efforts towards resolution

In efforts to manage the crisis, three Congress central observers were dispatched to Shimla. These observers engaged in discussions with senior leaders and MLAs, indicating the party's readiness to take decisive actions if necessary.

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Overall, despite initial turmoil, the Himachal Pradesh Congress government, led by Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, appears to have navigated the political crisis successfully, demonstrating resilience and strategic decision-making in maintaining stability.