Monday, May 20

Congress’ Prime Trouble Shooter Heads To Himachal As Sukhu Government Looks At ‘Operation Lotus’

Edited by Hiba Anvar
Congress’ Prime Trouble Shooter Heads To Himachal As Sukhu Government Looks At ‘Operation Lotus’ (image-twitter/DKShivakumar)

The Congress party has asked the Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar who is now renowned as the party’s main trouble-shooter to visit Himachal Pradesh. He has been called out to help the party to tide over the political crisis prevailing in the state. DK Shivakumar on Wednesday has confirmed that the Congress has asked him to visit the hill state.

Taking to X, he wrote, “As per the directions of the Congress high command, I am reaching #HimachalPradesh. Also there is absolutely no need to indulge in any hearsay, as I am confident that Congress Party legislators will be loyal to the party and stay put with the mandate that has been accorded to them. However, what should be questioned and worrisome is the extremes to which BJP is going in terms of acquiring power, deliberately attempting to crush democracy and public mandate in the process.”

It became a major setback for the congress party as the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department minister Vikramaditya Singh resigned from the post. The Rajya Sabha election held on Tuesday was also spoilt for the party due to cross-voting by some of its members.

To tackle the political crisis looming over the state of Himachal Pradesh, the Congress has appointed DK Shivakumar and Bhupinder Singh to resolve the issue.
Shivakumar has lived his political life as a troubleshooter ever since he hosted the Congress MLAs from Maharashtra in Bengaluru when a similar crisis was faced by the party in 2001. He is fondly called “Kanakapura bande (rock)” by his supporters, due to his capability to behold the flock together in the times of crisis.

The veteran leader played a key role in ensuring the victory of the late Ahmed Patel in the Rajya Sabha election from Gujarat in 2017 as well. To prevent any kind of defections, forty-four Gujarat MLAs whose support Patel needed to win the fifth term were brought to Karnataka in the days leading up to the vote.

However, the Congress has 40 MLAs in the Himachal assembly; the BJP has 25. The remaining three seats are held by independents.