Curated By: Poulami Kundu
Last Updated: February 27, 2024, 16:55 IST
The elections for the 15 Rajya Sabha seats across three states is underway. (Image: Representative/ANI)
Sources said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) might bring a no-confidence motion against the Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government in the state if its candidate wins
Polling for the 2024 Rajya Sabha elections has ended for the lone seat from Himachal Pradesh amid reports of cross-voting in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The results will be declared in the evening.
Meanwhile, sources said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) might bring a no-confidence motion against the Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government in the state if its candidate wins.
According to reports, if the Congress candidate loses, it can be inferred that at least nine MLAs cross-voted. In such a situation, if the BJP candidate wins, the party will bring a no-confidence motion against the Congress government.
As many as 68 MLAs in Himachal Pradesh cast their votes for the lone Rajya Sabha seat in the assembly in Shimla on Tuesday. Congress currently has 40 seats and three independents also supported the party and participated in the Congress Legislature Party meeting held on Monday.
Close competition between Congress, BJP
In Himachal, Congress’ Abhishek Manu Singhvi is contesting against BJP’s Harsh Mahajan, who was close to late former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. Mahajan, who joined the party in 2022, had been a two-time MLA from Congress and hailed from Chamba.
The former minister has also been the speaker of the assembly. After the voting ended, the BJP candidate said that some Congress MLAs were unhappy and angry.
What did CM Sukhu say
Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said, “We have 40 MLAs, if no one leaves, we will definitely get the 40 votes. I believe those who have been elected on the ideology of Congress must have voted in support of the party.”
What Jairam Thakur said
Former Himachal CM and Leader Of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur said the Congress government did not have the required support. “Tomorrow is budget. We will wait and watch and then take a call,” he added.
