Hard decisions may need to be taken: Ramesh

Is the Congress considering changing the Chief Minister in Himachal Pradesh? Congress leader Jairam Ramesh told the media that “all options are open” and the party knows that “hard decisions may need to be taken”.

Asked if Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has been asked to step down following the Congress’s shock defeat in the Rajya Sabha polls, Ramesh said it is for the observers to submit a report on what measures have to be taken. The observers’ report will address two issues: 1. Why cross-voting happened and the action that needs to be taken over it. 2. What measures need to be taken to save the government, ensure it completes the remainder of its term and implements the guarantees given to the people of Himachal.

Ramesh said whatever action is recommended will be “taken at the earliest, maybe in a day or two”. Regarding the BJP’s claim that the Congress has lost the mandate in Himachal, Ramesh said, “Operation Lotus cannot be equated with a loss of mandate; the mandate to govern Himachal was given to the Congress by the people of Himachal and not by the BJP.”