Vikramaditya Singh, a state minister and the son of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, resigned from his position on Wednesday, adding to the troubles for the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh.
Vikramaditya Singh revealed his decision at a news conference following the Himachal Pradesh Rajya Sabha election results, which were declared on Tuesday.
“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.
While addressing the press conference, he also stated that the outcomes of the Rajya Sabha elections, which saw the Congress candidate lose the polls due to cross-voting, is a result of the system prevailing in the government in the last year since it was formed.
“…There is no doubt that former CM Virbhadra Singh’s name was used in the (Assembly) election…This is a matter of fact, a matter of record. This government was formed with everyone’s contribution. It has completed one year of governance. I have never said anything about the functioning of the government, but it is my responsibility to say it clearly today…I have always said that position and cabinet berth is not important for me. For me, the most important thing is the relationship with the people of Himachal Pradesh…But the kind of system prevailing in the government in last one year, how MLAs were overlooked and attempts were made to stifle their voices – this is a result of that,” Singh said.
He also stated that he would interact with his supporters before deciding on his next steps.
“In the time to come, I will have video consultations with my people and then decide about the future course of action…” he added.
Vikramaditya Singh, born in 1989, represents Shimla Rural constituency as an MLA. He is the son of late Virbhadra Singh, the former chief minister. His mother, Pratibha Singh, is the MP for Mandi. She also serves as the state’s Congress chief.
Vikramaditya Singh is a two-time MLA. He won his first election in 2017. He replicated his performance in 2023.
On Tuesday, a high drama unfolded in Himachal Pradesh, as the BJP pulled off an upset by ousting Congress’s Abhishek Manu Singhvi in the Rajya Sabha elections thanks to cross-voting by six of the party’s MLAs.
The BJP has said that the government has “lost the mandate and trust”.
The trouble for the government comes at a time when the Assembly is holding its annual Budget session and is about to vote on the state Finance Bill.
The BJP is pushing for division voting on passing of the Budget after it is introduced in the assembly. If Congress is unable to see the budget through the government in the state will fall.
The Congress has 40 MLAs and the BJP has 25 in the 68-member state assembly. The remaining three seats are occupied by independent candidates.
Harsh Mahajan, the BJP leader who won Himachal Pradesh’s lone Rajya Sabha seat on Wednesday, said that his party will form government in the state by removing the ruling Congress due to ‘lacking majority’ in the House.
Mahajan told ANI on Wednesday that some Congress legislators are in talks with the BJP, and the state is going to see a change in the government.
“BJP is going to form its government in the state. Some more MLAs of Congress are in touch with us. I got phone calls from some of their MLAs and ministers…The situation is going to change in the next few hours and you will see BJP will form its government soon…For the next 10-20 years, Congress is not going to come to power here…” Mahajan said.