Hours after resigning as a Himachal Pradesh minister, Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh said he will “not press on his resignation till the time the dialogue and the action of the observers is complete”. He denied taking back his resignation yet.
After a meeting with central observers, Singh cited Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s “rejection” of his “offer” to resign and the need for unity in the party. In view of this, he told reporters, he is not “pressing” for it.
“There is a difference between taking back the resignation and not pressing the resignation till the time the dialogue and the action of the observers is not complete…,” he said.
Top Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda and DK Shivakumar reached Shimla to engage with the disgruntled party MLAs.
A group of Congress MLAs, including the six who cross-voted for the BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls, were learnt to be “disappointed” with the working style of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and are seeking his replacement.
Singh, who rebelled against the Congress government in the state, said, “We have talked to the observers. We have informed them about the present situation… I will not press my resignation until a decision is taken. The final decision will be taken in the coming time…”
Meanwhile, Congress MP Rajeev Shukla said party observers are speaking with the Congress MLAs and taking their opinion.
“First, they met the PCC Chief. They also met Vikramaditya Singh. CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has said that he is not going to accept his resignation and he [Singh] has also agreed not to press on his decision to resign…”
Vikramaditya Singh also claimed then that the state government was never in crisis.
His statement came as the Himachal Pradesh’s Congress government plunged into a crisis following cross-voting by six Congress MLAs in the Rajya Sabha election.
The Congress sought the disqualification of these six MLAs from the assembly. The matter was heard by Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania who has reserved his order.
The six MLAs also face the possibility of disqualification on another count. Speaking in the assembly, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan said a whip was issued to the party MLAs to be present in the House during voting Wednesday on budget. “But these MLAs defied it by staying away,” he was quoted by PTI as saying.
Meanwhile, 15 BJP MLAs were also suspended from the Himachal Pradesh assembly. The BJP wanted voting on the Budget, which they felt would reveal that the Congress has lost its majority in the state assembly.
But in the afternoon, the crisis was staved off for the time being as the House passed the Finance Bill by voice vote with no BJP member being present. The Speaker then adjourned the session sine die.
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