'Can't say what will happen in future', says Himachal Congress chief on BJP switch buzz

Himachal Pradesh Congress chief Pratibha Singh on Friday said their immediate goal is to strengthen the Congress for the Lok Sabha polls, but she can’t say what will happen in the future.

She stated this while replying to a media query about speculations of her and her minister son Vikramaditya Singh joining the BJP. Interestingly, her statement came amid rumours about Vikramaditya having a meeting with 6 Congress rebel MLAs in Chandigarh last night.

Pratibha said, “I have not thought about this right now. We have spent our entire life in the Congress party and our ideology is of the Congress. Our immediate goal is to strengthen the Congress for the Lok Sabha polls. I cannot say what will happen in the future.”

She rejected media reports about Vikramaditya meeting the Congress rebels. She said, “There is no such thing. He has a tour programme that includes a visit to Delhi. He may meet the Congress high command if they call him.” On whether there were demands to change the CM, she said, “Yes, but the observers told us that the high command has said the CM will continue.”

On what will they do if their concerns aren’t addressed, she said, “Let us see. We may go to Delhi to place our views before the high command again. We want to talk and find a way out. We have just spoken to the observers yesterday, it is too early to discuss the next steps. Whatever the high command decides will determine what we do next.”

Talking about the party organisation in the state, Pratibha said, “We have been in government for 14 months and I have been regularly telling the CM that things aren't fine, that there is dissatisfaction among the party workers over their neglect by the government. Had these concerns been addressed before we wouldn't have been in this situation today. Now the Lok Sabha election may be announced anytime. I don't think we have enough time left to address all the grievances but let's see what we can do. I also admit that it will be difficult to resolve everything so soon because so many issues have piled up.”

On the CM assurance that a statue of her late husband and former CM Virbhadra Singh will be installed soon, she said, “He has said this earlier too. This is not just Vikramaditya or my demand. Everyone in the state wants it to happen because Virbhadra Singh, a 6-term CM of the state, has done so much for Himachal. The people were even willing to crowd fund the statue. All we wanted was for the government to allot land for it on the Ridge Grounds which wasn't done in the past year despite repeated requests to the CM. So it is natural for Vikramaditya and the people to feel hurt. Let's see what happens now.”

'Will challenge decision'

Disqualified from the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, the six rebel Congress MLAs on Thursday said that the Speaker has taken the decision in a haste and under pressure from the chief minister, which they would challenge in the court of law.

Still camping at Panchkula in Haryana, the defiant MLAs said they were not willing to compromise their self-esteem which was hurt in the last one year. They ruled out the possibility of returning back to the Congress fold as they brace for the legal battle.

Sudhir Sharma, a four-time Congress MLA from Dharamsala, said he would challenge the decision in court as there was ample evidence to prove their presence in the House. “The collapse of the Congress government is imminent and in the interest of the state. I am not the one to get intimidated as I believe in acting fearlessly,” he said.

Rajinder Rana, three-time Congress MLA from Sujanpur who defeated former CM PK Dhumal in 2017, said the Speaker’s decision would be challenged in court. He said he had not received any notice from the Vidhan Sabha for disqualification. He said the six MLAs had been compelled to revolt due to the dictatorial style of functioning of the chief minister.

“We had been facing humiliation for the last 14 months and there was no action despite apprising the high command about it. As such we were compelled to take this step,” he said. “There is no question of going back to the Congress and the CM is lying that we are in touch with him,” he added.

Sukhu to remain CM

Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu will continue as the chief minister of the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh, Congress observer DK Shivakumar told the media in Shimla on Thursday (February 29).

“All the MLAs want a Congress government for five years...There is no ‘Operation Lotus’ here,” he added. “All is well. We have spoken to all the MLAs; the government will complete its five-year term,” Shivakumar asserted.

Panel to coordinate

Fellow Congress observer Bhupinder Singh Hooda said a six-member coordination committee will be set up to ensure the smooth functioning of the Himachal government and coordination with the state Congress unit. It will comprise the CM, Deputy CM, the PCC chief, and three other members whose names will be announced later,” he added.

“Sukhu has accepted there were mistakes but these will not happen now,” Shivakumar said.

Sukhu and PCC chief Pratibha Singh will jointly address the press at 5 pm. Shivakumar is also likely to be present.

"BJP attempt failed"

Shortly before the announcement, the Congress asserted that the situation in Himachal was "completely under control" and the BJP had failed in its attempts to "destabilise the elected government" in the hill state.

The Congress government faced a crisis after the ruling party in the state lost the lone Rajya Sabha seat despite having the numbers due to cross-voting by some of its own MAs, who are now siding with the BJP. The six MLAS who cross-voted have been disqualified by the Speaker and are likely to challenge their disqualification from the House.

Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said like other states, the BJP started the game of using money power, power of the government and muscle power to destabilise the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh but has failed.

"Various things are going around in the media regarding Himachal Pradesh. But we want to say one thing very clearly. The Prime Minister and the so-called 'Chanakya' have completely failed in Himachal. After the intervention of the Congress leadership and the promptness of our observers, the situation there is completely under the control of the Congress," he said in a post in Hindi on X. "Like several other states, the BJP had started the game of money power, power of government and muscle power in Himachal Pradesh too to destabilize the Congress government elected by the people with absolute majority.

6 rebel MLAs disqualified

Earlier, Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania disqualified all six rebel Congress MLAs who cross-voted.

Pathania said, “Six MLAs, who contested on Congress symbol, attracted provisions of anti-defection law against themselves...I declare that the six people cease to be members of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly with immediate effect.” These 6 MLAs are Rajinder Rana, Sudhir Sharma, ID Lakhanpal, Ravi Thakur, Chaitanya Sharma and Davinder Bhutto.

The MLAs have been disqualified under Rule 2 (1) (b) of the 10th Schedule (anti-defection law) for defying the party whip and not being present in the assembly to vote in favour of the government on the Finance Bill and other cut motions that were brought during the session that concluded on Wednesday.