Ruling Congress Loses Himachal Rajya Sabha Election, Sukhu Government Under Threat Of “Operation Lotus”

The Opposition BJP declared the victory of its candidate Harsh Mahajan in the Rajya Sabha election held today to the lone seat in Himachal Pradesh despite having only 25 MLAs in the 68-member Assembly. Congress’ defeat comes even after the party has 40 MLAs in the Assembly, and the party is now looking at a no-confidence motion as six Congress MLAs and three independents cross-voted to make BJP a winner in the election.

Meanwhile, the Himachal chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has claimed that at least six Congress MLAs were taken to Haryana accompanied by a convoy of the state’s police and the CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force).

“The way 5-6 MLAs have been taken by a convoy of the Haryana Police and the CRPF… The MLAs’ families are trying to get in touch with them and the legislators should contact them. There is no need to worry. There is a government and an opposition in a democracy but the kind of hooliganism (‘gundagardi’) being done by the opposition will never be accepted by the people of Himachal,” he said.

After alleging the Congress MLAs of selling out their honesty, Mr Sukhu has acknowledged the nine cross votings in the elections that led to the defeat of  senior party leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who was Congress’ nominee.

“…When someone has sold out their honesty…Nine cross-votings took place, three of them were Independent MLAs but six others sold their honesty…and voted against him (Abhishek Singhvi)…,” he told reporters.

When asked about the no-confidence motion, Mr Sukhu has said that he will see into it when the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly commences its session.

“…We will see when the Assembly session commences…Those who have gone (cross-voted) are being asked by their families why they did this. So, if the families are asking them, then maybe a few of them would think about ‘ghar wapasi’,” he said.