Shimla: Following a significant setback for the ruling Congress party in Himachal Pradesh, BJP leaders, led by Opposition Leader Jai Ram Thakur, are set to meet Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Wednesday to press for a floor test during the ongoing Budget session.
The recent defeat suffered by the Congress, attributed to cross-voting by six of its legislators for a single Rajya Sabha seat, has prompted the BJP to call for a floor test, citing the government’s minority status.
With the Budget for 2024-25 scheduled for passage on Wednesday, the BJP aims to challenge the Congress government by demanding a voting process instead of a voice vote, given the perceived minority status of the ruling party.
Following the recent cross-voting, the BJP’s strength in the House has surged to 34 from its previous count of 25, while the ruling Congress has seen its numbers dwindle from 40 to 34 in the 68-member House.
The Rajya Sabha voting saw an equal split between Congress and BJP candidates, with Harsh Mahajan clinching victory through a draw of lots.
In a surprising turn of events, six Congress MLAs, including ministerial hopefuls Sudhir Sharma and Rajinder Rana, defected to support the BJP, alongside three Independent MLAs.
In a bid to address the crisis triggered by the cross-voting, senior Congress leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda and D.K. Shivakumar have been dispatched to Shimla.
With discontent brewing within the Congress ranks over Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s leadership style, further defections during the Budget passing vote seem likely, with four to five legislators reportedly considering opposition.
