Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday refuted reports of his resignation, stating he has not submitted it and is determined to prove a majority in the House if required.
Addressing the media in Shimla, Sukhu claimed that no one from his party has demanded 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…” he said.
“I am not someone who gets scared, and I can assure you that Congress will prevail when the Budget is presented. The budget will be passed today. The BJP is spreading rumours of my resignation. Congress is unified,” he added.
He further claimed being in contact with some of the six MLAs who cross-voted in Tuesday’s Rajya Sabha election for the lone seat from the state. In an attack directed towards the BJP, he blamed the party for spreading rumours of his resignation, stating that the saffron party’s main aim is to create division within the legislative party and they want Congress MLAs to defect and join them.
” Congress is united…Some of the MLAs who voted for BJP are in our contact…” Sukhu said.
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Congress government in the state has been facing crisis after six MLAs cross-voted and are reportedly in touch with the BJP. The Congress holds 40 seats, while the BJP has 25 in the 68-member state assembly, with the remaining three seats held by Independents.
Meanwhile, the Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker today suspended 15 BJP MLAs for alleged misbehaviour, leading to the adjournment of the House. The state budget was eventually cleared in the Assembly.
Congress leader and Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar rushed to Shimla to engage with party members facing a potential loss of support. Shivakumar expressed confidence that Congress rebel MLAs would remain loyal to the party, rebuking the BJP for what he described as a deliberate attempt to crush democracy.
Also Read:Six Congress MLAs ‘taken away’ to Panchkula on way to Shimla ahead of Budget session
In another blow to the grand old party, state minister Vikramaditya Singh, son of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, resigned from his position, citing the current circumstances as the reason for his decision.
“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 mentioned.