In the mist-shrouded hills of Himachal Pradesh and its capital—Shimla, whispers of political intrigue echoed through the state Legislative assembly and subsequently engulfed the ruling Congress.
At the heart of the turmoil stood Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu—the first time, 59-year old Chief Minister, barely 15 months into the power. His government came almost near collapse on February 27 after cross-voting by six Congress MLAs for the lone Rajya Sabha seat. Sukhu somehow may have survived the blow of six rebels, who later were disqualified for defying the party whip during passing of the state’s budget but the unprecedented crisis has put a question mark on stability of the government.
Political analysts view ongoing turmoil in the Congress as the result of an internal power struggle and clash of political ambitions. This may not be the first time when the congress is fronted with rebellion, its scale Could be alarming this time. Even former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh faced the disquiet, both in the government and party as well. But, his stature and political maneuverability kept him going and he completed his terms.
Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu’s rise to the Chief Ministerial position after the demise of Virbhadra Singh also owes a lot to his organizational skills. As PCC president between 2023-2019, he navigated an uncomfortable time with Virbhadra Singh yet both survived even as Virbhadra's bid to get him removed from the post, did not work till he remained Chief Minister. This shows his survival instinct,which is again at test in the state as being Chief Minister.
The current crisis has roots to his attempt to consolidate power more than deliveries. This left many Congress MLAs sulking, brooding and even systematically sidelined, humiliated. The unease also grew strong among the cabinet ministers few of them who had decisive role in his making to the Chief Minister’s position when it came of making a choice with other two contenders—PCC president Pratibha Singh and Mukesh Agnihotri, now Deputy Chief Minister in the government. All three were party’s faces for the top post but Sukhu having firm backing of 21 MLAs of total 40 elected to the assembly, he emerged as party’s choice. His close proximity with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi had indeed clinched the game for him. Their backing continues even now while MLAs support is not as strong as earlier.
The Rajya Sabha poll for the lone seat having fallen vacant on completion of BJP national President J P Nadda’s term seems to have come as a God given opportunity for the rebel MLAs.The very fact that the opposition BJP having 25 in the 68-member House having fielded its candidate Harsh Mahajan, an estranged lieutenant, was enough to signal impending troubles.
It was not just to win the Rajya Sabha seat and embarrass the ruling congress but to destabilize the Congress—an operation “lotus” as the party sees now. Six party MLAs voting for the BJP, beside three independents (till now supporting the government) was a well-planned operation. Immediately after cross-voting the MLAs accompanied by two BJP legislators were moved-out of Shimla under the CRPF cover and lodged at a luxury hotel in Panchkula (Haryana).
The legislators being ferried and flown to places including Riskhikesh and Noida has the BJP back-up.
“The government, now having just 34 MLAs—one short of majority, was near-collapse on February 27 itself but survived after Speaker suspended 15 BJP MLAs from the House to pass the budget –a day later when six rebels defied the party whip and absented from the assembly voting” admits a senior cabinet minister crediting it to Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania.
Next day, Pathania also disqualified the rebels who could not get relief from the Supreme Court too. Now, a by-election ordered simultaneously with the Lok Sabha poll will decide their fate. The MLAs are now in the BJP’s net.The Independents have also resigned to seek BJP membership and fight bypoll,if held on their seats.
Yet, former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur,who is also leader of opposition denied the BJP hand in creating instability for Sukhu or a topple bid. He rather blames it on Chief Minister facing simmering disinterment of the MLAs due to his failure to deliver on the party promises and also ‘insulting and humiliating” the Congress MLAs.
“The government has lost the majority in the House. It is going to collapse any moment. Six have revolted openly while many others are still waiting for the right time. Let there be by-elections to the vacant seats and also Lok sabha polls, there will be a new government in place” he told this reporter.
The instability has badly impacted the functioning of the government, affecting several policy implementation and developmental projects. With leaders preoccupied with internal power struggles, the focus has entirely shifted away from addressing the needs of the people.
With Lok Sabha elections slated to be held on June 1 in Himachal Pradesh for four parliamentary seats—Mandi, Shimla, Kangra and Hamirpur, three of these with the BJP barring Mandi, the Congress crisis is bound to impact the poll campaign. The imposition of the Model Code of conduct has further deprived the party of implementing one of its flagship announcements to grant Rs 1500 pm under Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna samman Nidhi Yojana. The scheme has been stalled by the Election Commission of India following complaints about violation of model code.The scheme was announced only days before imposition of the model code.
The troubles for the party are not yet over and could intensify due to conflict of interests between the Chief Minister and PCC president Pratibha Singh. A sitting MP from Mandi, Pratibha Singh has gone public to declare that she will not contest upcoming elections and thus she had opted-out of the contest. Pratibha Singh is also PCC president.
Her statement that the ground situation is not favourable for her to fight the election has put the party in quandary as she was seen as a potential candidate having twice been MP from Mandi including the bypoll held in 2021 after demise of BJP MP Ram Swaroop Sharma.
She told reporters in Shimla that she has declined to contest the elections adding “I have told the party leaders in Delhi that I am not in a position to put up a fight. You cannot win polls just by distributing MPLAD funds,” she says
Pratibha Singh even has claimed that the party workers were demoralised and left wondering if they were being taken care of during the past 14 months of the congress government. Her move just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls has caused a big jolt to the party though efforts are underway to pacify her.
Thus, continuous political upheavals have cast shadows not only in the government but also how the state has witnessed some of the bizarre happenings due to over-ambitious MLAs switching the loyalty to the party, which had fought against them on the ground. The state with its two-party system is once again at the cross-roads while the Chief Minister is making a double effort to survive the BJP bid to turn his applecart with Congress rebels.
The Political instability can adversely effects on the state's economy, deterring investment and stalling growth.The state is already facing a debt of Rs 80,000 cr and mounting liabilities to pay salaries and meet hefty pension bill every month with coffers almost empty.Already a worst natural calamity during the monsoon—flash floods, landslides and disasters have left the state badly battered with a loss of Rs 10,000 cr. Several new political appointments and cabinet-rank positions, two dozen OSDs and advisors to the Chief Minister, have already caused a public outcry and troubles in governance. Whispers of discontent are growing louder, echoing across the mountains. What happens if the BJP manages to bring down the government or the crisis spills over for the congress ? or, will the Sukhu government last its term ? Many questions unanswered.
By Ashutosh Sharma from Shimla
(The content of this article reflects the views of writers and contributors, not necessarily those of the publisher and editor. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Delhi/New Delhi only)
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