HP Budget Session: Minister Vikramaditya Singh U-turn amid political turmoil, resignation withdrawn
Observers reached Shimla to stop political conflict in Congress - Photo: Diary Times
Despite the Congress government having majority in Himachal Pradesh, the political turmoil in the state has intensified with the Rajya Sabha seat going to BJP. Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh has resigned from the cabinet. 15 BJP MLAs have been suspended by the House. Read the Full Day updates here
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After the political uproar in the state Congress, Public Works and Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh in the Sukhu government resigned from the post of minister on Wednesday morning and took it back in the late evening. After meeting party observers, Vikramaditya said that after discussion with the Chief Minister and the party high command, he has decided to withdraw his resignation. Party is supreme. I have informed the Chief Minister and the high command about the issues regarding which I was unhappy. The party is completely united in Himachal.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivkumar and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupendra Hooda, who reached the capital Shimla for damage control after the political turmoil in the state Congress, on Wednesday met Congress ministers, MLAs and Chief Parliamentary Secretaries one by one and took their pulse. After the meeting ended in the evening, Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh has withdrawn his resignation. Vikramaditya Singh has been convinced in the meeting. Vikramaditya said that organization is paramount. Congress is united.
After meeting with observers, CM said – Our government is safe –
After concluding the meeting with the observers, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that our government is safe. Said that there was discussion related to elections in the meeting.
On the other hand, BJP Legislature Party meeting is going on in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Party MLA Reena Kashyap said that the time has come for the government which is talking about changing the system.
Senior advocate Satpal Jain appeared before the Assembly Speaker on behalf of six MLAs –
The decision was reserved on the petition filed by the state government under anti-defection law. Senior advocate Satpal Jain appeared before Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania on behalf of six rebel Congress MLAs Rajinder Rana, Sudhir Sharma, Chaitanya Sharma, Devendra Kumar Bhutto, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal and Ravi Thakur. Government advocates also appeared before him. Meanwhile, after the hearing, State Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania said that he has heard both the sides in detail. After that he reserved his decision.
Advocate Satpal Jain, appearing for the BJP, said that the Assembly Speaker had given show cause notice to six MLAs in the morning under the anti-defection law. He had to appear at 1:30, so at that time he appeared on behalf of the six MLAs. He wrote to them requesting that the copy of the petition had not been received. Only notice has been received. Seven days time should be given so that they can file their reply. Under Anti-Defection Rule-7 made by the Legislative Assembly, there is a provision to give seven days time to the person against whom the petition comes to reply. He gave the request in writing at 1:30. He also said that he did not do any such behavior which comes under this rule. The hearing started at 1:30. Asked to inspect the records at four o’clock. The copy of the petition has been given after the debate is over. He has been told that the petitioners have the right to speak. He has reserved his petition. He has full confidence that the Speaker will take care of the dignity of the post. Disqualification cannot be done on the basis of who votes where in Rajya Sabha elections.
Will remove Vikramaditya Singh anger: Sukhu
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that there is no justification in accepting the resignation of Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh. He said that Vikramaditya Singh is his younger brother. CM said that their resentment will be removed. The Chief Minister has also called a cabinet meeting on Thursday. While talking to journalists, CM Sukhu answered the questions related to Vikramaditya’s resignation. He said that he had talked to Vikramaditya Singh. there’s nothing like this. He is my younger brother. Certainly if someone gets angry he resigns. There is no justification for accepting his resignation. We spoke to him today during the budget session but in the meantime the Speaker came to the House. Whatever resentment they have will be removed.
Observers reached Shimla to stop political conflict in Congress
To stop the political turmoil in Himachal Pradesh Congress, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivkumar and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupendra Hooda have reached Shimla. Party observers first held a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri at the hotel located at Chaura Maidan in the capital Shimla. After this, Vikramaditya Singh and State Congress President Pratibha Singh also met the observers. The two observers sent by the Congress High Command to Himachal are meeting all the Congress MLAs and ministers one by one to know their opinions.
Vikramaditya Singh said this when his resignation was not accepted
When the resignation was not accepted, Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh said that it is the prerogative of the Chief Minister. I don’t take pressure but give pressure. Responding to a question on whether the CM should be changed or not, he said that it is not his jurisdiction, it will be decided by the party high command.
It is necessary to throw out those who give priority to personal interests from the party: Sidhu
Navjot Singh Sidhu wrote on X- Himachal’s failure demands assessment of assets and responsibilities for the country’s oldest party. The impersonators in high positions are secretly dancing to the tunes of agencies like CBI, ED and IT who have many times brought disastrous days for us. It is necessary to weed out those people in the party who give priority to their personal interests over the collective good. His actions have caused a deep blow to the existence of the party. The wounds may heal but the mental trauma will remain. Their profit is the biggest pain of the Congress worker.
Rebel Congress MLAs reach Panchkula again –
Six Congress MLAs who did cross voting have again reached Panchkula in Haryana. Brought under tight security with a convoy of Haryana Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). These include Rajinder Rana, Sudhir Sharma, Devendra Bhutto, ID Lakhanpal, Ravi Thakur and Chaitanya Sharma.
BJP MLAs suspended to save government: Jairam
Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur said, BJP has 25 MLAs. After voting in Rajya Sabha, this number increased to 34. This has brought a huge crisis to the government…they had to pass the budget somehow, otherwise the government would have fallen. For this he had only one way to reduce the number of BJP MLAs. Today 15 MLAs have been suspended without any reason. I am also included among those MLAs. 15 MLAs have been suspended so that the Congress government can be saved. They passed the budget after our suspension.
All ministers and MLAs including CM leave for Oakover –
All the ministers and MLAs including Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu have left for Oakover. Earlier, the CM went to Tara Devi temple along with several ministers and MLAs. CM Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said that we have brought a disqualification motion against him (Congress MLA who voted for the BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections) and the hearing on it is going on. Today the budget was passed and we will expose the conspiracy to topple our government. Our government will complete 5 years.
On speculations about joining BJP after resignation, Congress MLA Vikramaditya Singh said that there is nothing like that yet. Whatever I say, I always say it on the basis of facts and evidence. There is nothing like that, it is all a rumour. I speak the truth and without any political adulteration. Whatever we have to say, we will say it clearly.
Vikramaditya Singh left the government vehicle
After resigning from the cabinet, Vikramaditya Singh has left the government vehicle. He left for his residence from the assembly in his private car.
Jairam Ramesh said – sought report on cross voting, priority now is to save the government
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that a conspiracy is being hatched to topple the Congress government due to cross voting. The Congress President has asked the observers to meet the MLAs and listen to their complaints and submit the report as soon as possible. Cross voting is unfortunate. Right now our priority is to save the Congress government.
Budget passed in the House, session adjourned indefinitely
Himachal Pradesh Assembly budget session was adjourned sine die on Wednesday after the budget was passed. Earlier, Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu proposed to pass the bill related to the budget. The budget was passed in the absence of the House opposition. Chief Minister Sukhu said that action should be taken against those who snatched papers from the chair. Action should also be taken against those who staged dance in the House. Jayaram is very hungry for power. This state will not run with hooliganism. This is Devbhoomi. It is not right to scare officers. The behavior of Jairam Thakur and the opposition during the Rajya Sabha elections was not right.
BJP is misusing money power, power of agencies and power of the Centre: Priyanka
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wrote a post on social media. He wrote that in democracy the common people have the right to choose the government of their choice. The people of Himachal used this right and formed the Congress government with a clear majority. But BJP wants to crush this right of the people of Himachal by misusing the money power, power of agencies and power of the Centre. The way BJP is using government security and machinery for this purpose is unprecedented in the history of the country. If a party with 25 MLAs is challenging the majority of 43 MLAs, then it clearly means that it is dependent on horse-trading of representatives. This attitude of theirs is unethical and unconstitutional. The people of Himachal and the country are watching everything. The BJP, which did not stand with the people of the state during the natural disaster, now wants to push the state into political disaster.
Debate begins to disqualify rebel MLAs
At the same time, a debate has started in the House to disqualify six rebel MLAs of the Congress Party. The party was given time till 1.30 pm on Wednesday to clarify the situation. Lawyers from both sides will argue before the speaker. Senior advocates have arrived from Delhi to represent the Congress Party.
Opposition behaved without decorum in the House: Harshvardhan
The proceedings of the Assembly House have resumed after 2:00 pm. Suspended MLAs were not allowed to enter the House. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshvardhan Chauhan said that the opposition behaved without decorum in the House. Papers were thrown on the seat. This is condemnable. The Speaker said that 15 MLAs were suspended. Despite this, all these members sat in the House, this is also a violation of the rules. But this kind of behavior is not right. If we look at all the proceedings throughout the year, maximum time was given to the Leader of Opposition. The petition has been put up for hearing today. The under-defection petition of six MLAs is being heard. On this, BJP MLA Satpal Satti said- We are assuming that the government is in minority. You are working to save the government. We too will not stay in this house. We are going to boycott the House. After this the opposition MLAs walked out of the house. Congress MLA Jagat Singh Negi said that this is not democratic. Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur entered the polling station with 15 people. An attempt was made to influence him. How will this democracy work? When asked to go out, he did not go. The Congress strength was 40. Have they gone without temptation? Whatever decision was taken for the dignity of this House, democracy has been saved. Said that Jairam wants to destroy democracy. Strict action should be taken against those officers who could not implement the order.
I am a warrior, will prove majority in the budget
Talking to journalists, CM said that I have not resigned, I am a warrior. A warrior from a common family struggles in battle and victory is achieved through struggle. The Congress party government will last for five years. This government is a government of common people, employees and women. The propaganda being run by BJP by misleading the MLAs will not be successful. I will fight this fight like a war. CM said that we will prove our majority in the budget session. Many BJP MLAs are in touch with us and those who are trying to take political advantage will not be able to do so. BJP’s behavior in the House is not appropriate.
Government has lost its moral authority: Jairam
Leader of Opposition of Himachal Pradesh Jairam Thakur said- This government has lost the moral right to remain in power. As far as I have received information whether Chief Minister Sukhu has also submitted his resignation or maybe the high command has asked him to, I do not know. Jairam Thakur said that today what we had feared happened. We had met the Governor in the morning and we had said that Congress does not have the majority to pass the budget. In such a situation, they will suspend the BJP MLAs… As soon as they came to the House today, a proposal was brought by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister and asked to suspend 15 assembly members. We were forced to go out through Marshall, it is very unfortunate. There is a provision for suspension in the House when we obstruct the proceedings of the House. We were ready to discuss.
Jairam said – We were suspended to pass the budget –
Jairam Thakur said in the House that we have been suspended to pass the budget. This government has fallen. They passed the budget at 3:30. The government should resign on moral grounds. Vikramaditya Singh has also resigned. Even worse has happened to them than the opposition. After this the opposition MLAs got up from the House and went for lunch.
Deadlock in the House, meeting could not start –
The meeting of the Assembly House has not started. There is a deadlock in the House. Assembly Secretary Yashpal Sharma also requested Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur to leave the House. But Jairam is not getting up from his seat. At the same time, the ruling party is present in the House.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the news of his resignation is baseless. The observers appointed by the Congress high command have not yet reached Shimla. Do not believe the rumors being spread by the opposition. BJP is bent on killing democracy. The confidence of the party high command remains intact. All senior media colleagues are requested to avoid running baseless news. Chief Minister Sukhu himself gave this information on social media.
Jairam talked about resignation of Chief Minister, Sundar Thakur rejected the statement –
Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur said that the Chief Minister has resigned. At the same time, Congress MLA Sundar Singh Thakur has rejected this statement. CM is sitting in his chamber. It has been told from his office that it is just a rumor that the CM has resigned. On the other hand, the suspended BJP MLAs are being taken out one by one by the marshal. Marshal has caught MLA Balveer Verma, Surendra Shourie and taken him out of the House.
BJP and Congress workers face to face at assembly square –
The atmosphere in the Assembly premises has become tense due to the situation arising after the Rajya Sabha elections. BJP and Congress workers are face to face at Vidhan Sabha Chowk. There is a lot of sloganeering from both sides.
Attempt to stop the vehicles of rebel MLAs at the gate, attempt to take out Jairam by force –
Congress workers tried to stop the vehicles of rebel MLAs at the Assembly gate. Opposition MLAs came to the house. The marshal tried to force Jairam Thakur out of the House. On this Vipin Singh Parmar asked not to touch him. At the same time, the health of BJP MLA Randhir Sharma deteriorated. After this the doctor was called and he was examined. Meanwhile, Marshal caught MLA Janakraj and took him out of the House.
Six Congress MLAs, who voted for the BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections, reached Shimla in a helicopter on Wednesday. All six MLAs have reached the assembly. In view of the security arrangements, the Assembly Speaker has called additional police force. The assembly complex has been converted into a cantonment.
BJP councilors and party officials called to the assembly premises
All BJP councilors and party officials have been called to the assembly premises. At the same time, BJP MLAs are sitting inside the House. Marshals are asking them to leave. But the MLA vehicle is not ready to go. The suspended members are also present inside the House.
Anurag Thakur said- Congress government was formed in the state by making false promises –
Union Minister Anurag Thakur said that Congress government was formed in Himachal Pradesh by making big and false promises and now those promises have not been fulfilled. Today, the condition of Congress has become such that wherever they have made promises, they are seen reneging and their MLAs are seen running away from them. What was the compulsion that their MLAs left them in just 14 months? Anurag said that those who cannot handle their family, MLAs and party are blaming others. What can BJP do in whose own district two MLAs left? Their MLAs used to speak openly against their government many times, was that also being done by BJP?
These MLAs were suspended –
15 BJP MLAs including Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur, Vipin Singh Parmar, Vinod Kumar, Hansraj, Janakram, Balveer Verma, Trilok Jamwal, Surendra Shourie, Deep Raj, Purna Chand, Inder Singh Gandhi, Dalip Singh and Randhir Sharma were suspended from the proceedings of the House. went. But despite being suspended, the MLA continued sitting in the House. Didn’t go out.
BJP contacted two more MLAs of Shimla, Harsh said – Vikramaditya is eligible to become the Chief Minister –
It is being told that BJP has contacted two more MLAs of Shimla district. They have also been close to Holi Lodge in the past. Meanwhile, after winning the Rajya Sabha elections, Harsh Mahajan reached the Assembly on Wednesday. He said that Vikramaditya Singh has shown morality by resigning. Despite being a minister, he was being insulted in the government. Harsh said that there is now a race in Congress to become the Chief Minister. Harsh Mahajan said that Vikramaditya is eligible to become the Chief Minister. Now they will die fighting each other.
Six Congress MLAs who did cross voting left Panchkula for unknown place –
Six Congress MLAs, who voted for the BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections, left Haryana for an undisclosed destination in a helicopter on Wednesday. Sources said the MLAs, including Rajendra Rana and Ravi Thakur, spent the night in a hotel here and left for Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula in BJP-ruled Haryana in the morning. The MLA had reached Haryana from Shimla on Tuesday after casting his vote in the Rajya Sabha elections. He is understood to be in touch with the BJP amid signs of crisis over the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh. The MLAs are disappointed with the working style of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and are demanding his replacement. However, Sukhu on Tuesday rejected claims that some party MLAs were kidnapped and referred to his visit to Panchkula, saying he could go anywhere
House proceedings adjourned till 12:00 noon –
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harsh Vardhan Chauhan said that it is not possible to run the House in these circumstances. Harshvardhan Chauhan from the House said that he was manhandled. Amidst the noise and uproar, the proceedings of the House have been adjourned till 12:00. Congress MLAs have also walked out of the House. BJP MLAs are still raising slogans inside the House.
Amidst the uproar in the Assembly House, 15 MLAs including Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur, Vipin Singh Parmar, Vinod Kumar, Hansraj, Randhir Sharma, Vinod Kumar have been expelled from the proceedings of the House. Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Pathania ordered the suspended members to go out. This action has been taken in the case of scuffle with the marshal of the Assembly Speaker. There was loud sloganeering against the Speaker in the House. Case of Speaker’s scuffle with Marshal. The Speaker said that if the suspended members do not go out, the marshals will force them out. After this the members went to the bell. Kept shouting slogans.
Vikramaditya Singh started crying emotionally –
Vikramaditya Singh became emotional and started crying during the press conference. Said that Virbhadra was CM six times, but no place was found for his statue on the ridge. I am hurt by this. Said that he will take the future decision after discussion with the public and said that he is going to resign the Governor. He said that despite being a minister in the current government, attempts were made to humiliate him many times. The recent incident of breaking of foundation laying magazines is also related to this.
Sukhu government’s Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh has resigned from the post of minister on Wednesday. He announced this in a press conference held in the state assembly complex on Wednesday. Said that I have accountability towards the public. Said that the MLAs were ignored during the events of one year. The voice was suppressed. Said that notices were given to the officers of my department in the foundation stone laying case. He is following the footsteps of Virbhadra Singh. Priyanka Gandhi has informed Kharge about the developments of the last two days and now the high command has to take a decision.
HP Budget Session Live: Vikramaditya resigns, Congress MLA who did cross voting reaches Assembly
Despite Himachal Pradesh Congress having majority, political turmoil has intensified after Rajya Sabha seat went to BJP. Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur along with BJP legislature party met Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday morning and demanded division of votes for the budget in the House. Jai Ram Thakur said that we met the Governor and informed him about the current developments. This government does not have the moral right to remain in power. The BJP legislature party submitted a letter to the Governor raising several issues. The letter alleged that during the cut motion on health facilities brought by the opposition on Tuesday, the behavior of the speaker and the government was discriminatory. The Speaker refused division of vote. Demand No. 9 was passed by voice vote during the reply of the Health Minister. The hands raised in the House in this regard were not counted. The Speaker deliberately adjourned the House for the next day. After this, when the Leader of Opposition and other BJP MLAs went to meet the Speaker, he closed the door of the chamber. BJP MLAs were scuffled with marshals and security personnel and they suffered injuries. The BJP Legislature Party, through a letter, demanded division of vote while passing the budget and asked the Speaker to issue appropriate instructions in this regard. On the other hand, after the BJP MLAs, Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania met Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla at Raj Bhavan at 9:30 am.
Read More: Big Breaking: Resignation of Himachal’s dynamic and youth minister Vikramaditya Singh, rebellious attitude
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