Shimla: The Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government in Himachal Pradesh faces dissent from some MLAs who could jeopardise the party’s chances in the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled Tuesday.
Former minister and Dharamshala MLA Sudhir Sharma and Sujanpur MLA Rajinder Rana, who were hoping for cabinet berths, have expressed discontent with Sukhu, ahead of the elections in which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fielded Harsh Mahajan against Abhishek Manu Singhvi of the Congress.
Sharma — son of the late Sant Ram Sharma, a former minister and Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president — served as a cabinet minister from 2012 to 2017.
Rana, HPCC working president, had defeated former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal in Sujanpur in 2017 and retained the seat in 2022. Rana, once a close aide of Dhumal, joined the Congress in 2014.
In the past three months, Rana and Sharma have been seen together at several events. Earlier, on 15 January, Sharma attended a function of ex-Armymen organised by an NGO run by Rana.
They also met youths protesting against the Congress government for delaying results of the recruitment tests, which was held for over 3,000 posts on 20 February. Before this, Rana had written to the CM on 1 February, reminding him of the pre-poll promise of providing jobs to the youths.
The discussion around cabinet berth found its way into the assembly Friday. CM Sukhu, while replying to the budget discussion in the assembly, said that there was one vacant cabinet post and anyone could become a minister.
When asked if it was a hint, Sharma told ThePrint, “One should get food when he is hungry. I have no such aspirations now. I am happy to work as an MLA.”
On a question whether he would contest the Lok Sabha elections from Kangra, Sharma remarked: “I am merely an MLA.”
“There are many other worthy leaders and cabinet ministers who should be made the candidate. When I was not considered worthy for the cabinet, how can I be fit for such a big election?” he added.
When ThePrint asked Rana about his stand, he said he would not accept a cabinet berth now.
“My voters are always with me and their insults will not be tolerated. In the last 14 months, the cabinet has been expanded twice. Now, I will not accept a cabinet berth. People of Sujanpur should not get the leftovers; it’s insulting,” said Rana.
Addressing a public meeting in his constituency Sunday, Rana even claimed: “My name was there on the list for the cabinet berth, but I was overlooked. It’s not that I want to become a minister for a big house or cars. I have been owning all this for a long time. This is a matter of honour of the people of Sujanpur.”
“People of Sujanpur have always stood by me and they will decide my future course of action.”
The issue was also raised by HPCC president and Mandi MP Pratibha Singh, who said that some Congress leaders raised issues regarding the government and workers’ representation.
When asked about Sharma and Rana, Singh told the media on 31 January: “They have spoken to the CM. Even I have raised their issue with the CM. If they are still unhappy, it means their issues are unresolved.”
“I have been advocating the proper representation for the party men who worked hard to bring the Congress in power in Himachal Pradesh,” she added.
Raising caution, another senior Congress leader said that the party should not take these episodes lightly.
“Rana and Sudhir are both senior leaders. Both of them are active these days and don’t hesitate to corner their party’s government. Not only the Rajya Sabha, we also have to contest the Lok Sabha election. Once it starts, dissidence don’t get over so soon,” the leader told ThePrint.
Also Read: Congress expects runaway win in lone Himachal RS seat. But BJP pick has party on edge
BJP’s ‘surprise’ & Congress’s number
The BJP’s decision to field Harsh Mahajan on 15 February, the last day of nomination, for the Rajya Sabha polls raised eyebrows in the Congress camp.
Mahajan is a three-time MLA and former minister who was close to former CM Virbahdra Singh. He joined the BJP in October, just before the 2022 assembly election.
A cabinet minister told ThePrint that the BJP top leadership’s plan to field Mahajan should be taken seriously.
“The BJP decided to field a candidate, that too on the last day of nomination…should not be taken casually. Their candidate (Mahajan) is a leader who has spent over four decades in the Congress and is known for his management skills…,” said the minister.
Former CM Jairam Thakur tried to play the Himachali versus outsider card soon after the nomination. “Fielding any candidate is the internal matter of any political party. But it would have been better if someone from Himachal was given a chance,” he had told the media on 16 February.
Meanwhile, Mahajan was confident and said that the BJP contests every election to win. “I have filed a nomination to win the election and we will win because many Congress MLAs will vote with their conscience,” he told ThePrint.
Like him, CM Sukhu is also confident about Congress’ victory. “We have the majority and not only 40 Congress MLAs but three Independents will also support our candidate,” he told the media Friday.
The Congress has 40 MLAs in the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha and the BJP has 25. There are three independent MLAs, of whom two are the BJP rebels.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
Also Read: In Devbhumi Himachal Pradesh, Kullu residents oppose ropeway to temple. ‘Mahadev is against this’