Shimla: Adding to the woes of the ruling Congress in Himachal Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to field six disqualified Congress rebel MLAs in the upcoming Assembly by-polls, following their recent defection to the BJP camp.
All six erstwhile Congress MLAs—Rajinder Singh Rana, Sudhir Sharma, Chaitanya Sharma, Ravi Thakur, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, and Davinder Bhutto—had previously cross-voted in favor of BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan during the Rajya Sabha elections, causing a significant blow to Congress’ senior leader Abhishek Mani Singhvi.
The BJP has strategically nominated Ravi Thakur for Lahaul-Spiti, Rajinder Rana for Sujanpur, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal for Barsar, Chaitanya Sharma for Gagret, and Devinder Kumar Bhutto for Kutlehar, aiming to capitalize on their influence in respective constituencies.
In addition to the six MLAs, three independents—Hoshyar Singh, Ashish Sharma, and K.L. Thakur—have also switched allegiance to the BJP, further weakening the Congress stronghold. This shift led to Singhvi’s defeat in the Rajya Sabha elections, highlighting BJP’s strengthening grip in the region.
The rebel Congress MLAs officially joined the BJP ranks on Saturday, accompanied by three independent MLAs who resigned from their posts a day prior in the presence of BJP leaders, solidifying the BJP’s position ahead of impending Lok Sabha and assembly elections.
Himachal Pradesh is slated to witness by-polls in six assembly constituencies previously held by the rebel MLAs, alongside elections in four Lok Sabha constituencies. This political shuffle has significantly altered the landscape, posing a critical challenge for the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government.
Previously enjoying a comfortable majority with 43 MLAs, including three independents, out of the 68-member assembly post the 2022 elections, Congress now faces a precarious situation with the disqualification of six rebel MLAs. The BJP, along with independents, holds 28 seats, narrowing the gap between the two parties.
The fate of the Congress government hinges on its ability to maintain unity and secure victories in the forthcoming by-polls. The BJP’s strategic moves underscore its determination to strengthen its foothold in Himachal Pradesh, setting the stage for an intense electoral battle.
