Shimla: Himachal Pradesh assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania on Thursday disqualified six Congress legislators, who had cross-voted in the recent Rajya Sabha polls, for allegedly defying a party whip on voting for the state budget in the assembly.
Congress’ central observer D K Shivakumar said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has taken the responsibility of party leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi’s defeat in the Rajya Sabha polls and claimed that all differences have been ironed out after speaking to party MLAs individually.
Addressing a press conference here along with another observer Bhupinder Hooda, Shivakumar said the Congress government would last a full term in Himachal when asked if Sukhu would continue as CM.
When pressed for a direct answer on Sukhu’s continuation, Hooda said, “Why are you asking a hypothetical question when Sukhu is the CM.”
Shivakumar also said it has been decided to form a coordination committee to sort out all internal matters.
The remarks were made at the press conference, which was also attended by third central observer Bhupesh Baghel, Sukhu and Himachal Congress chief Pratibha Singh.
Shivakumar said Sukhu has taken the responsibility of Singhvi’s defeat in the Rajya Sabha polls – which had triggered the crisis for the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh.
Shivakumar also said that the central observers have spoken to Sukhu, party MLAs and state unit chief Pratibha Singh individually and all differences have been ironed out. “All the MLAs have assured and taken an oath to work together to save the party and the government,” he said.
Later in the evening, Public Works Department Minister Vikramaditya Singh, who offered to resign on Wednesday and later said that he would not press for his resignation, attended the cabinet meeting.
Earlier in the day, assembly Speaker Pathania disqualified six Congress MLAs for defying a party whip to vote in favour of the government on cut motion and the finance bill (Budget) in the state assembly.
One of the disqualified MLAs said they will appeal against the Speaker’s order in the Supreme Court.
The disqualified MLAs are Sudhir Sharma, Ravi Thakur, Rajinder Rana, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Chetanya Sharma and Devinder Kumar Bhutto.