In a significant blow to the Congress in Himachal Pradesh, state minister Vikramaditya Singh resigned from his post this morning, citing grievances against Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for allegedly disregarding MLAs and disrespecting his late father, Virbhadra Singh, a prominent figure in the state’s politics.
Singh’s resignation comes amidst a whirlwind of developments in Himachal Pradesh over the past 24 hours, transforming what initially seemed like a routine election for a single Rajya Sabha seat into a fight for survival for the Congress government, which holds 40 out of the 68 seats in the Assembly.
Addressing the media, Singh expressed concern over the unfolding situation in the state and delved into the background leading to it. He emphasized the collective leadership under which the 2022 Assembly elections were contested, highlighting the pivotal role played by his late father and the extensive use of his image in campaign materials. Singh lamented the sidelining of his mother, Pratibha Singh, who was perceived as a frontrunner for the Chief Ministerial post before Sukhu’s selection.
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Reflecting on his decision to resign, Singh emphasized his accountability to the people of Himachal Pradesh, stressing the importance of their trust over holding onto a position of power.
He criticized the government’s functioning, alleging negligence towards MLAs and fiscal mismanagement, issues he claims were repeatedly brought to the attention of the party high command but not adequately addressed.
Singh also raised concerns about the Congress’ ability to fulfill its promises to the state’s youth, questioning the party’s capacity in light of recent events.
The crisis for the Congress government intensified after six of its MLAs defected during the Rajya Sabha election, leading to the victory of BJP’s Harsh Mahajan. The rebel MLAs were reportedly taken to Haryana, prompting allegations from the Opposition BJP that the ruling party had lost its mandate to govern.
In a bid to contain the fallout, the Congress has dispatched senior leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda and DK Shivakumar to Himachal Pradesh for damage control, as the political landscape in the state remains turbulent.
