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regular-article-logo Monday, 23 December 2024

Himachal CM's home turf becomes centre of rebellion, 4 Congress dissidents from Hamirpur

One of the three independent MLAs who also voted for the BJP is also from a Hamirpur assembly segment. Sukhu's own constituency is Nadaun in Hamirpur district

PTI Shimla Published 04.03.24, 07:45 PM
Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu

Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu File photo

Four of the six Himachal Pradesh Congress MLAs who cross-voted for the the BJP in the recent Rajya Sabha polls are from Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's home turf -- their assembly segments are part of the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency.

One of the three independent MLAs who also voted for the BJP is also from a Hamirpur assembly segment. Sukhu's own constituency is Nadaun in Hamirpur district.

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These nine MLAs - six from the Congress and three independents - had triggered a political crisis in the state.

The banner of revolt raised by Congress rebel Rajinder Rana and the three others and an independent from Hamirpur parliamentary constituency joining him, indicate that Sukhu failed to gauge the level of resentment among the legislators in his home district.

Out of the nine MLAs who voted in favour of BJP's Mahajan in the Rajya Sabha elections held on August 27, five are from Hamirpur parliamentary constituency, including three from Hamirpur district.

Congress MLAs Rana and Inder Dutt Lakhanpal represent Sujanpur and Barsar assembly segments respectively while Independent MLA Ashish Sharma is from Hamirpur assembly seat in Hamirpur district. Congress MLAs Chetanya Sharma and Devinder Kumar Bhutto were elected from Gagret and Chintpurni (SC) constituencies respectively in the adjoining Una district which is alsoma part of Hamirpur Lok SBha seat.

Hamirpur was considered a stronghold of the BJP but Rana not only set the new political narrative by defeating the BJP stalwart and two-time chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal in 2017 assembly polls but was also instrumental in creating a situation which saw the BJP getting wiped out in the district in the 2022 assembly polls.

After the formation of the Congress government, the party MLAs and workers were hoping that they would be respected and rewarded. Rana openly said instead of getting rewards and respect, he faced humiliation.

Rana further said no corrective action was taken despite he appraising the chief minister of his resentment and grievances. Even the high command was informed through state Congress chief Pratibha Singh but to no avail, he said.

Pratibha Singh has been repeatedly saying that had the grievances of these disgruntled MLAs and ministers been addressed, the present crisis would not have cropped up. Political analysts are blaming both the state and central leadership of the party.

Ashish Sharma, who was elected as an independent, and two other independent MLAs extended support to the Sukhu government and even attended the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting held on the eve of Rajya Sabha elections. But they voted for the BJP candidate.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.

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