The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Karnataka): Amid the political upheaval in Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, asserted on Thursday that the state’s government is on stable ground and is set to fulfill its five-year mandate. Shivakumar, who was designated as a special observer for the crisis, confidently stated, “All is well. This government will stay for 5 years. All issues have been sorted out. We are hearing all the MLAs. There is no problem in the government,” following his consultations with Himachal Pradesh Congress leaders Vikramaditya Singh and Pratibha Singh in Shimla.
This announcement came as a relief amidst the swirling uncertainties that had gripped the state’s political landscape. In addition to Shivakumar’s reassuring words, it was noted that Rajiv Shukla, the Congress party’s point person for Himachal Pradesh, concluded his visit to Shimla. Observers Bhupendra Singh Hooda and DK Shivakumar were also scheduled to depart from Shimla on the same day, marking the end of a critical intervention phase.
In a strategic move to stabilize the government, the Congress observers recommended that Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu continue as the Chief Minister until the next Lok Sabha elections. This decision was part of their preliminary report submitted to the Congress leadership, indicating a concerted effort to maintain unity and direction within the party’s state unit.
Amid these developments, the state’s Assembly Speaker, Kuldeep Singh Pathania, took decisive action against six Congress MLAs who had deviated from the party line during the Rajya Sabha elections. Pathania’s ruling disqualified the legislators under the anti-defection law, stating, “Six MLAs, who contested on Congress symbol, attracted provisions of anti-defection law against themselves. I declare that the six people cease to be members of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly with immediate effect.” The disqualified members include Sudhir Sharma, Rajinder Rana, Davinder K Bhutto, Ravi Thakur, Chaitanya Sharma, and Inder Dutt Lakhanpal.
Following the 2022 Assembly elections, the Congress held a majority with 40 seats, while the BJP secured 25 seats in the 68-member assembly, leaving three seats to independents. The disqualification of the six rebel MLAs has reduced the assembly’s strength to 62, setting the majority threshold at 32, further solidifying the current government’s position. This sequence of events marks a pivotal moment in Himachal Pradesh’s political narrative, ensuring the stability and continuity of governance amidst challenges.
