The politics of the hilly state of Himachal Pradesh, loved by India's urban dwellers for its picturesque locations, is heating up.
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was chosen as the leader of the Congress party, and thus as the chief minister in November 2022. Congress party won 40 of the 68 seats against 25 won by the BJP. Three MLAs were elected as independents.
But the Rajya Sabha elections on Feb 27 have set alarm bells ringing for CM Sukhu's government.
This is because, despite a majority in the state assembly in Shimla, the Congress Rajya Sabha candidate, Abhishek Manu Singhvi lost to BJP's Harsh Mahajan.
A total of 6 Congress MLAs cross-voted for the BJP candidate in Rajya Sabha elections.
The BJP is now demanding a floor test in the state assembly because it claims that CM Sukhu has lost the majority in the house.
Meanwhile, Congress veterans themselves are demanding CM Sukhu to step down. Sukhu, unlike former CM Virbhadra Singh and Prem Kumar Dhumal's families, doesn't have a political pedigree and is described as 'self-made' in the state's political circles.
Veteran Congress leader Virbhadra Singh's son Vikramaditya Singh and wife Pratibha Singh are known to be antagonistic towards Sukhu. The 'self-made' leader from Hamirpur district's Nadaun was cho sen as chief minister by the 'party high command' and not either of them.
Amid the political crisis, Vikramaditya held a press conference and accused Sukhu of 'stifling' the voice of certain MLAs. He stepped down as minister in the Sukhu Cabinet, further heightening the crisis for power in the state.
Either way, pressure is mounting on CM Sukhu to abdicate in exchange for the support of 'defected' Congress MLAs.
Besides, the scenario of 'defected' MLAs entering the BJP's umbrella has further complicated Sukhu's fate in power.