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.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/india-news/business-economy/himachal-pradesh-how-power-is-slipping-away-from-under-cm-sukhus-nose-1709101158373">How Power is Slipping Away Under CM Sukhu's Nose</a>

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&nbsp;—after an ally fielded its candidate from southern India's Wayanad&nbsp;— is emerging as a telling tale of the crises gripping India's oldest political party.

<h2>Himachal Pradesh political crisis</h2>

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.&nbsp;

From New Delhi's 24, Akbar Road&nbsp;— the headquarters of the Congress party&nbsp;— 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 a&nbsp;confidence 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.&nbsp;

<h2>Rajya Sabha Election results: Implications ahead of General Elections</h2>

Voting took place&nbsp;for 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.&nbsp;

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&nbsp;— is looking for a 'third' safe seat after the Communist Party fielded its candidate from Wayanad.&nbsp;

Also watch |&nbsp;India: BJP's big win in Rajya Sabha; bags eight seats in Uttar Pradesh, one in HP &amp; Karnataka

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His mother Sonia Gandhi already gave up her Raebareli Lok Sabha seat and chose to enter the parliament through Rajya Sabha.&nbsp;

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.&nbsp;

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 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. Also read | How Power is Slipping Away Under CM Sukhu's Nose 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 a confidence 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 place for 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.

Himachal Pradesh political crisis after Rajya Sabha debacle: What it means for Congress party

Congress minister Vikramaditya Singh on Wednesday (Feb 28) stated that he will withhold his resignation until the observers' report is submitted.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/himachal-pradesh-politics-crisis-live-15-bjp-mlas-expelled-as-harsh-mahajan-won-rajya-sabha-seat-amid-cross-voting-694639">Himachal Pradesh political crisis LIVE: BJP seeks no-trust vote</a>

He emphasised the distinction between retracting the resignation and deferring its press until the conclusion of the dialogue.

Singh mentioned, "We have engaged with the observers, apprising them of the current situation. I will refrain from pressing my resignation until a decision is reached. The ultimate resolution will be determined in the near future."

On Tuesday, the BJP secured victory in Himachal Pradesh's sole Rajya Sabha seat, as their candidate Harsh Mahajan defeated the Congress veteran Abhishek Manu Singhvi. The competition concluded with both Congress and BJP candidates receiving 34 votes each, indicating that at least six Congress MLAs voted against their party. The final outcome was determined through a draw of lots.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-claims-congress-govt-in-himachal-pradesh-loses-majority-amid-reports-of-cross-voting-in-rs-polls-694446" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-claims-congress-govt-in-himachal-pradesh-loses-majority-amid-reports-of-cross-voting-in-rs-polls-694446&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjM48yfuc6EAxVBcGwGHdCvApgQFnoECAkQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw0YI666TKPFV_vGEDfJqTKg" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-claims-congress-govt-in-himachal-pradesh-loses-majority-amid-reports-of-cross-voting-in-rs-polls-694446" target="_blank">Congress govt in&nbsp;Himachal Pradesh&nbsp;has lost majority, claims BJP</a>

In the 68-member assembly, the Congress holds 40 seats, while the BJP has 25 legislators in Himachal. The remaining three seats are occupied by independent members.

Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Jairam Thakur, after conferring with party legislators in Shimla, remarked, "The Speaker has suspended 15 BJP MLAs from the House; this suspension was undoubtedly executed to safeguard the government. If the budget motion had not passed today, it would have confirmed that the government had lost its majority."

Congress leader&nbsp;Jairam Ramesh&nbsp;accused the BJP of attempting to overthrow the Congress government in the state. He asserted that the party leadership would not hesitate to make tough decisions, emphasising the supremacy of the party.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/himachal-pradesh-political-crisis-after-rajya-sabha-debacle-what-it-means-for-congress-party-694692" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/himachal-pradesh-political-crisis-after-rajya-sabha-debacle-what-it-means-for-congress-party-694692&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjM48yfuc6EAxVBcGwGHdCvApgQFnoECAYQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw3n0KgYj2PWI4283HYY03cZ" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/himachal-pradesh-political-crisis-after-rajya-sabha-debacle-what-it-means-for-congress-party-694692" target="_blank">Himachal Pradesh&nbsp;political crisis after Rajya Sabha debacle</a>

"Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and AICC in-charge Rajeev Shukla are actively involved. They have engaged with the Congress president, who has instructed them to convene meetings and attentively address the grievances and demands of all MLAs," stated Jairam Ramesh.

He further remarked, "Cross-voting occurred, but dealing with the conspiracy to destabilise the Congress government — the steps to be taken by the party to counter this 'Operation Lotus' — the Congress president has directed these senior colleagues to interact with everyone, gather their perspectives, and submit a report promptly."

During the Wednesday (Feb 28) assembly session, the Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly expelled 15 BJP MLAs, including LoP Jairam Thakur, Vipin Singh Parmar, Randheer Sharma, Lokender Kumar, Vinod Kumar, Hans Raj, Janak Raj, Balbir Verma, Trilok Jamwal, Surender Shori, Deep Raj, Puran Thakur, Inder Singh Gandhi, Dileep Thakur, and Inder Singh Gandhi. The expulsion was reportedly a consequence of their involvement in disruptive behaviour, including shouting slogans, within the Speaker's chamber.

(With inputs from agencies)

Congress minister Vikramaditya Singh on Wednesday (Feb 28) stated that he will withhold his resignation until the observers' report is submitted. Also read: Himachal Pradesh political crisis LIVE: BJP seeks no-trust vote He emphasised the distinction between retracting the resignation and deferring its press until the conclusion of the dialogue.

Congress minister Vikramaditya Singh on Wednesday (Feb 28) stated that he will withhold his resignation until the observers' report is submitted. Also read: Himachal Pradesh political crisis LIVE: BJP seeks no-trust vote He emphasised the distinction between retracting the resignation and deferring its press until the conclusion of the dialogue. Singh mentioned, "We have engaged with the observers, apprising them of the current situation. I will refrain from pressing my resignation until a decision is reached. The ultimate resolution will be determined in the near future." On Tuesday, the BJP secured victory in Himachal Pradesh's sole Rajya Sabha seat, as their candidate Harsh Mahajan defeated the Congress veteran Abhishek Manu Singhvi. The competition concluded with both Congress and BJP candidates receiving 34 votes each, indicating that at least six Congress MLAs voted against their party. The final outcome was determined through a draw of lots. Also read: Congress govt in Himachal Pradesh has lost majority, claims BJP In the 68-member assembly, the Congress holds 40 seats, while the BJP has 25 legislators in Himachal. The remaining three seats are occupied by independent members. Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Jairam Thakur, after conferring with party legislators in Shimla, remarked, "The Speaker has suspended 15 BJP MLAs from the House; this suspension was undoubtedly executed to safeguard the government. If the budget motion had not passed today, it would have confirmed that the government had lost its majority." Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused the BJP of attempting to overthrow the Congress government in the state. He asserted that the party leadership would not hesitate to make tough decisions, emphasising the supremacy of the party. Also read: Himachal Pradesh political crisis after Rajya Sabha debacle "Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and AICC in-charge Rajeev Shukla are actively involved. They have engaged with the Congress president, who has instructed them to convene meetings and attentively address the grievances and demands of all MLAs," stated Jairam Ramesh. He further remarked, "Cross-voting occurred, but dealing with the conspiracy to destabilise the Congress government — the steps to be taken by the party to counter this 'Operation Lotus' — the Congress president has directed these senior colleagues to interact with everyone, gather their perspectives, and submit a report promptly." During the Wednesday (Feb 28) assembly session, the Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly expelled 15 BJP MLAs, including LoP Jairam Thakur, Vipin Singh Parmar, Randheer Sharma, Lokender Kumar, Vinod Kumar, Hans Raj, Janak Raj, Balbir Verma, Trilok Jamwal, Surender Shori, Deep Raj, Puran Thakur, Inder Singh Gandhi, Dileep Thakur, and Inder Singh Gandhi. The expulsion was reportedly a consequence of their involvement in disruptive behaviour, including shouting slogans, within the Speaker's chamber. (With inputs from agencies)

Himachal Pradesh political crisis: Minister Vikramaditya Singh withholds his resignation

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Himachal Pradesh political crisis after Rajya Sabha debacle: What it means for Congress party

Himachal Pradesh political crisis: Minister Vikramaditya Singh withholds his resignation