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- Published: March 1, 2024 12:25
Shimla: Amid the political uncertainty in Himachal Pradesh, state Congress chief Pratibha Singh on Friday asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s work is better than that of the grand old party.
“A lot of things remain to be done in Congress. As a MP, I visit my constituency and try to interact with the local people and solve their problems. It is true that the BJP’s working is better than ours,” the Himachal Pradesh Congress chief told ANI on Friday.
#WATCH | When asked if she wants to meet Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Himachal Pradesh Congress president Pratibha Singh says, “Definitely. They are our high command. We have to go and apprise them that this is the situation now in Himachal and tell us what to do.” pic.twitter.com/GcCpRekV37
— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2024
Pratibha Singh further said that she has conveyed her message to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and asked him to strengthen the organisation.
“From day 1, I had been telling the CM that we would be able to face the upcoming election only if he strengthens the organisation. This is a very tough situation for us. We can see a lot of difficulties on the ground – as per the directions of PM Modi, BJP is going to do a lot of things,” she added.
#WATCH | When asked about speculations of Vikramaditya Singh’s meeting with the six disqualified Congress MLAs, Himachal Pradesh Congress president Pratibha Singh says, “I have no idea about this. He was here until last night. What did he decide further and where did he go, I… pic.twitter.com/gqwAIHcfZR
— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2024
The Himachal Pradesh Congress chief further said “We are on weak footing there. I urged him again and again that we need to strengthen and the party needs to be organised…I can say that it is a difficult time. Still, we have to contest elections and win.”
Earlier on Thursday, state Congress president Pratibha Singh and her MLA son Vikramaditya Singh continued to exert pressure on CM Sukhu, saying they had highlighted issues they thought “were not correct”.
#WATCH | When asked about Congress Observers’ statement that CM Sukhu will continue for 5 years, Himachal Pradesh Congress president Pratibha Singh says, “Observer ke bolne se kya hota hai? Observers want this to happen. It is difficult to say what people want and what will… pic.twitter.com/TuJRGgffqh
— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2024
Pratibha Singh, wife of former Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh, appeared to back the six rebel MLAs who had cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha elections, saying it was natural for MLAs to be upset.
“Definitely, why not? When it has been more than a year and you take no cognizance or listen to them, it is natural for them to be upset. Had you sat them down, talked to them and found out a solution, this situation would not have occurred,” Pratibha Singh said, answering a query.
Partibha Singh’s son and cabinet minister Vikramaditya Singh, who agreed not to press on his resignation, attended a meeting with the Chief Minister on Friday.
Meanwhile Leader of opposition Jairam Thakur says the Congress governmet will not last out its full term.
#WATCH | Shimla | When asked if the party high command should meet her and Vikramaditya Singh amid the political situation in the state, Himachal Pradesh Congress president Pratibha Singh says, “Let’s see…We have time. We will go and alert them. We will sit with them and… pic.twitter.com/uyA1cYqof2
— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2024
“We are sitting here, we are not doing anything. Whatever is happening – it is happening amongst them. We are alert regarding the political developments taking place. But the unethical and wrong methods that have been adopted to save the government – suspension of BJP MLAs, disqualification of 6 Congress MLAs – and a few hasty decisions that have been taken have affected the image of the CM across the state. He should understand this” Jairam Thakur said.
Notably, after the 2022 Assembly elections, the Congress had 40 MLAs, while the BJP had 25 in the 68-member state assembly. The remaining three seats are held by independents. With the six rebel MLAs disqualified, the strength of the House has come down from 68 to 62, and the halfway mark is now 32.
With the loss of six MLAs, the Congress now has 34 MLAs and the BJP, with independents, has 28. The fortunes of the Congress will now rest on its ability to keep the rest of its flock together.
The political crisis in the state was triggered by the Congress losing the Rajya Sabha election on Tuesday despite having a clear majority in the assembly.