'Can't say what will happen in future', says Himachal Congress chief on BJP switch buzz
HP Assembly adjourned sine die
The Himachal Pradesh Assembly was on Wednesday adjourned sine die after the passing of Budget 2024-25 and the related Appropriation Bill authorising the government to spend Rs 6,24,21.73 crore from the consolidated fund.
The Budget was passed in the absence of BJP members as 15 of them were suspended and the remaining 10 staged a walkout in protest.
The Vidhan Sabha was adjourned a day ahead of schedule amid the turbulent political scenario.
The Budget was presented on February 17 by CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who also holds the finance portfolio. Discussions on the budget were held for four days from February 19 to 22.
HP Assembly passes Budget
Priyanka's tweet
Translation: "In democracy, the general public has the right to choose the government of their choice. The people of Himachal used this right and formed the Congress government with a clear majority. But BJP wants to crush this right of the people of Himachal by misusing the money power, power of agencies and power of the Centre. The way BJP is using government security and machinery for this purpose is unprecedented in the history of the country. If a party with 25 MLAs is challenging the majority of 43 MLAs, then it clearly means that it is dependent on horse-trading of representatives.
This attitude of theirs is unethical and unconstitutional. The people of Himachal and the country are watching everything. The BJP, which did not stand with the people of the state during the natural disaster, now wants to push the state into political disaster."
Congress MLAs cross-voted as non-Himachali was fielded: Anurag Thakur
Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday said people became disillusioned with the Congress-led Himachal Pradesh government within 14 months as it failed to fulfil the tall promises it made during the election.
Thakur told reporters in Delhi that the Congress MLAs voted against their own candidate in the Rajya Sabha election as they were angry at a non-Himachali being fielded from the state.
“There is anger among the people and MLAs. They are unhappy with their government as they are unable to fulfil their promises,” Thakur said, adding that the Congress MLAs vented their anger by voting against their own candidate.
“Now, these fissures are increasing. The dissent within the Congress is now visible and it only erupted as they realised that the anger against the government was now increasing,” he said.
Such was the disillusionment among the people that Congress MLAs were unable to face the electorate in their constituencies as they were being questioned about the promises made during elections, Thakur claimed.
“Congress is appearing disintegrated, broken and has no answers as to why it has come to such a pass in Himachal Pradesh,” the senior BJP leader said on the sidelines of a conference.
(With PTI inputs)