Himachal Pradesh: Congress Buys Time? State Budget Pushed Through Amid Coup Apprehensions

New Delhi:

The Congress started Wednesday facing a precarious situation with its government in Himachal Pradesh - one of only three states it controls independently - on the brink of collapse following a surprising defeat in yesterday's Rajya Sabha election. The defeat, which was claimed to have diminished its majority in the House, had placed the party in a vulnerable position.

However, by the end of Wednesday, the Congress managed to secure an unexpected reprieve, retaining power at least until after the upcoming general election, which is slated to span two to three months. This respite came through the strategic expulsion of 15 MLAs from the opposition BJP, including Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur, and the successful passage of the state budget.

The expulsion of the 15 MLAs occurred promptly after the commencement of the Assembly's budget session. The action was ostensibly taken due to their involvement in sloganeering and misconduct, including barging into the Speaker's chambers. These charges mirror the actions for which the BJP, currently in power at the center, has frequently expelled or suspended opposition parliamentarians.

"The BJP members were not seated in their designated places... they raised slogans and attempted to create a disruptive atmosphere. Despite my instructions for them to remain seated, they persisted," stated the Speaker regarding the incident.

Expelling 15 rival lawmakers provided a significant advantage to the Congress in several ways:

1. Working Majority: By expelling the 15 BJP MLAs, the Congress secured a working majority in the Assembly. This ensured that they had sufficient support to pass important legislation, such as the state budget, without facing significant opposition.

2. Budget Passage: With the BJP's 10 remaining MLAs walking out in protest, the Congress had a clear path to passing the state budget without contest. This allowed them to maintain control over crucial financial decisions and government functioning.

3. Protection from Immediate Test: Passing the budget provided a shield for the Chief Minister's government against any immediate challenges, including a floor test. This bought them time and stability, at least until after the legal challenges from the BJP are addressed.

4. Foiling Conspiracy to Topple Government: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu highlighted that by successfully passing the budget, the Congress thwarted the alleged conspiracy to topple their government. This reinforced their position and demonstrated their resilience in the face of political turmoil.

5. Legal Maneuvering: The expulsion of BJP lawmakers now requires the BJP to file legal challenges to contest the Speaker's decision. This legal process is expected to be prolonged, giving the Congress further breathing room to consolidate their position.

6. Demonstration of Resolve: Chief Minister Sukhu's grim-faced assertion of completing his government's tenure despite challenges underscored his determination to navigate through the turbulent political climate and emerge victorious.

Overall, the expulsion of rival lawmakers provided the Congress with a crucial advantage in maintaining their grip on power and weathering the political storm in Himachal Pradesh.

"Neither has anyone asked for my resignation nor have I presented my resignation to anyone. We will prove our majority. We will win..." stated the Chief Minister, accusing the BJP of spreading rumors to destabilize the party.

The strategic significance of passing the budget without opposition was emphasized by Mr. Thakur.

"The BJP initially had 25 MLAs. This number increased to 34 after the Rajya Sabha voting. (Mr. Thakur here includes the six Congress MLAs who have yet to officially join the BJP and three independent lawmakers). This posed a significant threat. It was imperative to pass the budget to prevent the collapse of the government," he asserted.

"Neither has anyone asked for my resignation nor have I presented my resignation to anyone. We will prove our majority. We will win..." stated the Chief Minister, accusing the BJP of spreading rumors to destabilize the party.

The strategic significance of passing the budget without opposition was emphasized by Mr. Thakur.

"The BJP initially had 25 MLAs. This number increased to 34 after the Rajya Sabha voting. (Mr. Thakur here includes the six Congress MLAs who have yet to officially join the BJP and three independent lawmakers). This posed a significant threat. It was imperative to pass the budget to prevent the collapse of the government," he asserted.

"For this purpose, they needed to reduce the number of BJP MLAs. Fifteen of us, including myself, have been suspended. Our suspension was orchestrated to safeguard the Congress government. Subsequently, after our expulsion, they proceeded to pass the budget."

The expulsion of the BJP MLAs also served as a preemptive measure against their plan to compel the Congress into a floor test. By removing 15 lawmakers from the 68-member House, the majority threshold is reduced to just 27.

Even with the anticipated loss of six MLAs due to cross-voting in Tuesday's Rajya Sabha election, which ignited the current uproar, the Congress would have still retained enough support to withstand a no-trust motion.

The party secured 40 seats in the 2022 election, a number sufficient to navigate through such a challenge, provided it doesn't suffer further defections.

However, this scenario was never put to the test, as the swift and resolute action taken by the state unit of the Congress caught the BJP off guard, affording them crucial time to regroup and strategize.

In response, the Congress promptly dispatched three seasoned leaders - Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, along with former Haryana and Chhattisgarh Chief Ministers, Bhupinder Hooda and Bhupesh Baghel - to mitigate the escalating situation.

Senior leader Jairam Ramesh reiterated that the foremost objective is to safeguard the integrity of the party's government in the state.