A one-line resolution authorising the party high command to choose the new chief minister of Himachal Pradesh was passed by the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) on Friday. A CLP meeting was convened at the workplace after the Congress won 40 of the 68 seats in the Assembly on Friday, seizing control of the hill state.
AICC in-charge for Himachal Pradesh Rajeev Shukla and Congress observers Bhupesh Baghel of Chhattisgarh and Bhupinder Singh Hooda of former Haryana chief minister shared with the governor a list of the party’s winning MLAs and “sought time” to formally stake their claim. The meeting between the party’s observers and Himachal Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar took place before a meeting of the newly elected MLA.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted on Thursday that the margin of victory between his party and the Congress was less than 1%, despite the BJP’s electoral defeat.
In the previous 37 years, Himachal Pradesh has a history of never having the same government in office twice. The rational Himachali voter has always believed that it is best to prevent any party from becoming too at ease in power.