Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, denied on Wednesday that he had resigned his post, claiming he hasn’t submitted his resignation and will demonstrate his majority in the House.
In an interview with the media here on Wednesday, Sukhu stated that no one in his party had requested his resignation.
“Neither anyone asked for my resignation nor I have presented my resignation to anyone. We will prove the majority. We will win, the people of Himachal will win…” Sukhu said.
Sukhu went on to say that he won’t be ‘scared’ and reaffirmed his resolve for Congress to hold onto power.
“I am not someone who will get scared and I can say this with guarantee, that Congress is going to win when the Budget will be presented. The budget will be passed today. BJP is spreading rumours of my resignation. Congress is united…” he added.
The Himachal CM also said that some of the six MLAs who cross voted in yesterday’s Rajya Sabha election for lone seat are in his contact.
“…BJP is spreading rumours of my resignation. They want to create a break in the legislative party. They want Congress MLAs to leave the party and join them. Congress is united…Some of the MLAs who voted for BJP are in our contact…” Sukhu said.
The Congress government in the state are in trouble after six MLAs reportedly switched sides and are in contact with the BJP.
In the 68-member state assembly, the BJP has 25 MLAs while the Congress has 40. Independents occupy the final three seats.
The Speaker of the HP Vidhan Sabha adjourned the house and suspended fifteen BJP MLAs for alleged misconduct.
The state budget is awaiting assembly approval, and the BJP with the aid of Congress rebels is ensuring the budget doesn’t pass and is attempting to split the vote.
On Wednesday, DK Shivakumar, the leader of the Congress and an observer for Himachal Pradesh, hurried to Shimla to negotiate with party members as the party is losing popularity and could perhaps lose its majority in the state.
In a post on X, Shivakumar shared his belief that the Congress renegade MLAs will remain ‘true’ to the party and uphold the mandate that has been given to them.
“As per the directions of the Congress high command, I am reaching Himachal Pradesh. Also there is absolutely no need to indulge in any hearsay, as I am confident that Congress Party legislators will be loyal to the party and stay put with the mandate that has been accorded to them,” Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister said.
He went on the offensive against the BJP, alleging that it was ‘deliberately attempting to crush democracy’.
“However, what should be questioned and worrisome is the extremes to which BJP is going in terms of acquiring power, deliberately attempting to crush democracy and public mandate in the process,” Shivakumar added.
Vikramaditya Singh, a state minister and the son of former chief minister Virbhadra Singh, resigned from his post on Wednesday, causing more problems for the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh.
“All I would like to say is that under the current circumstances, it is not correct for me to continue as a part of the government. So, I have decided that I am resigning from the Council of Ministers. I am resigning as a minister,” Singh said.