Himachal Pradesh political crisis after Rajya Sabha debacle: What it means for Congress party
Congress leaders Pratibha Singh and Vikramaditya Singh with Rahul Gandhi; Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
The unfolding political crisis in northern India's Himachal Pradesh state after the Congress party lost the lone seat in upper house of parliament Rajya Sabha to the Bharatiya Janata Party due to cross-voting by its MLAs has laid out the blemished picture for the opposition ahead of general elections.
The Congress, with its Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), is seeking to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claim for a third consecutive term in power in the Lok Sabha elections due this summer.
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But after a poor showing in just-held Rajya Sabha polls, the struggle for a 'safe' seat for Rahul Gandhi, the fifth-generation Gandhi dynast—after an ally fielded its candidate from southern India's Wayanad— is emerging as a telling tale of the crises gripping India's oldest political party.
Himachal Pradesh political crisis
Himachal Pradesh under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is the only state in northern India that has a Congress government as of now. After six MLAs cross-voted for the BJP Rajya Sabha candidate Harsh Mahajan, the alarm bells are ringing for the Sukhu government, with former CM and the current leader of opposition in the state assembly demanding a floor test in a stunning challenge Sukhu, who is just in his 14th month in power.
From New Delhi's 24, Akbar Road— the headquarters of the Congress party— the calls have been made and the messages are dispatched.
Senior leaders Bhupendra Singh Hooda and DK Shivakumar have been sent to Shimla as special observers to supervise the party's activities amid the fallout. Sukhu is claiming he still has the majority.
But the government appears to on a sticky wicket, with aconfidence motion expected to decide whether the Congress government would be out of the state or remain on the crease for the rest of its tenure.
Rajya Sabha Election results: Implications ahead of General Elections
Voting took placefor 15 seats for Rajya Sabha seats of Himachal Pradesh (1), Uttar Pradesh (10) and Karnataka (4). A total of 41 leaders for 56 seats, including former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and BJP chief JP Nadda, were elected unopposed in recent days.
The BJP won 10 of 15 Rajya Sabha seats, with one win from Himachal Pradesh emerging as a surprise for many because the party does not have a government in the state.
The results came amid news that the former party chief Rahul Gandhi, who contested two Lok Sabha seats in 2019 — the family pocket borough of Amethi and Wayanad in Kerala— is looking for a 'third' safe seat after the Communist Party fielded its candidate from Wayanad.
Also watch |India: BJP's big win in Rajya Sabha; bags eight seats in Uttar Pradesh, one in HP & Karnataka
His mother Sonia Gandhi already gave up her Raebareli Lok Sabha seat and chose to enter the parliament through Rajya Sabha.
The Congress party continues to remain ambiguous on who will claim the space left by Sonia Gandhi in Raebareli, with daughter Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra failing to confirm if at all she will formally contest the elections later this summer.
As the party looks to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the peak of his power, questions remain on the ability of India's grand old party to sail through the storm of tumultuous political waters.