Himachal political crisis: Congress will not hesitate to take tough steps says Jairam Ramesh

A report will be presented to the Congress president, by the observers at the earliest, after listening to everyone. Based on that, additional steps will certainly be taken...

Digital Desk: The Congress party's general secretary, Jairam Ramesh, expressed his concern over the Himachal Pradesh political crisis in a press conference on Wednesday. He emphasised the party's commitment to preserving the people's mandate in the state and asserted that tough measures would be taken if necessary. 

He informed the press about the party observers, Bhupesh Baghel, DK Shivakumar, and Bhupinder Hooda, who are in Shimla to hear MLA grievances, and said, “Congress will not hesitate to take tough steps as the party is our priority; we will not let people's mandate be betrayed in Himachal Pradesh." 

The Congress-led Himachal Pradesh government is grappling with a significant political upheaval following the BJP's victory in the Rajya Sabha elections. Six Congress MLAs reportedly crossed sides, leading to a precarious situation for the ruling government. Accountability for cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha poll is assured, according to Ramesh.

He further said, “Individual's interests are not significant as the party is supreme; people's mandate needs to be appreciated. We cannot lose the mandate through the BJP's 'Operation Lotus', only people can take it back."

Meanwhile, the crisis deepened as Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh resigned, further weakening the Congress's stronghold. The BJP secured the lone Rajya Sabha seat in the state, indicating internal challenges within the Congress.

"...A report will be presented to the Congress president, by the observers at the earliest, after listening to everyone. Based on that, additional steps will certainly be taken after speaking with the party president and other leaders. Perhaps some harsh decisions will have to be made, but we won't shy away from that…" Ramesh added.

In a similar development, leaders from West Bengal and Assam, including Rana Goswami and Kaustav Bagchi, resigned from Congress, with indications that they might join the BJP. This trend of Congress leaders switching allegiance to the BJP appears to be gaining momentum, with several recent instances of defections reported across states.