National Desk, 28th February: Amidst escalating political turmoil in Himachal Pradesh and swirling rumors of his resignation, Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu clarified on Wednesday that he has not stepped down from his position.
In a press conference addressing the media, Sukhu firmly denied both resigning voluntarily and being asked to resign. He reiterated the Congress party’s stronghold in the assembly, suggesting a potential vote of confidence if any doubts persisted.
Despite the upheaval triggered by six Congress MLAs pledging support to the BJP and State Minister Vikramaditya Singh tendering his resignation from the cabinet, CM Sukhu maintained his stance.
The situation unfolded following the defection of six Congress MLAs who sided with the BJP candidate for the state’s lone Rajya Sabha seat, prompting the Congress leadership to take swift action to preserve unity within the party ranks.
In response, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has delegated senior leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda and D K Shivakumar to engage with the dissident MLAs reportedly dissatisfied with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s leadership style.
Seeking a change in leadership, these MLAs have sparked a potential crisis for the Congress government in the state. Hooda and Shivakumar are scheduled to arrive in Shimla today to assess the situation and strategize a resolution.
Expressing confidence in retaining the allegiance of the rebellious Congress MLAs, Congress observer D K Shivakumar emphasized his imminent journey to Shimla to oversee the unfolding developments and manage the situation effectively.
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