On Monday, Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Pathania administered oath to two Congress legislators and one BJP legislator. After nine assembly by-polls, the Congress party continued its old tally of 40 seats as it won six polls. Chief of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee Pratibha Singh termed it as a jubilation for the Congress, in view of the fact that the BJP could not displace the Congress government in the State.
“The way BJP conspired to topple the government of Himachal Pradesh on February 27, the people of state have given them a befitting reply. People have told them that the way BJP tries to topple elected governments with money and horse trading will not be accepted in Himachal. We were elected 40 legislators in the state in 2022 and I am happy that we have retained the same number of 40,” said Pratibha Singh.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the efforts of the BJP to destabilize the elected government were thwarted and people once again reiterated their faith in Congress, and the latter was allowed to retain its 40 seats as per the decision taken in 2022.
“We want to make Himachal Pradesh self-reliant by 2027. In spite of spending four months on elections and dealing with last year’s disasters, our disaster restoration works were appreciated by the World Bank, Niti Aayog, and even BJP leaders. We need the support of people, especially from the BJP, which played a negative role. Recently, along with my PWD Minister and CPS Sunder Thakur, I met Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and requested him to construct the Bhu-Bhu Jot tunnel and four-lane roads. I urge the BJP not to obstruct these projects. After the disaster, we received no assistance or special package despite raising the issue with the Prime Minister and Home Minister,” said CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
“We are also working to secure a safe future for the young generation and will make tough decisions if necessary. With cooperation from all, including the BJP, we shall move forward. The BJP has wasted our time with elections over the past four months, and I appeal to them to play a constructive role in the opposition over the next three and a half years,” added Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
The CM’s wife and newly elected Congress legislator, Kamlesh Thakur, pledged for the betterment of her constituency.
“Electricity, water and service in my constituency would be my priorities. It is just the beginning and my message to people is that I shall always be available for their services,” said Kamlesh Thakur.