News Brief
Himachal Pradesh CM khvinder Singh Sukhu.
In a latest development, Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania has suspended 15 BJP MLAs, including Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur for causing an uproar and leading to the adjournment of the House.
The Speaker cited their disruptive behavior and slogan chanting within the legislative chamber as the reason for their suspension.
Earlier in the day, Thakur had expressed concerns about the Speaker's intentions to suspend BJP MLAs to facilitate the passage of the budget in the Vidhan Sabha.
He also highlighted the recent Rajya Sabha election results, indicating the Congress government's minority status, and demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
Adding to Congress's woes, state minister Vikramaditya Singh, son of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, resigned from his position in response to the election outcome.
It's important to note that the Congress holds 40 MLAs while the BJP has 25, and three seats are occupied by independents in the 68-member state assembly.
Amidst these development, Karnataka Deputy CM and Congress Leader DK Shivakumar in a social media post on X said, "As per the directions of the Congress high command, I am reaching #HimachalPradesh....there is absolutely no need to indulge in any hearsay, as I am confident that Congress Party legislators will be loyal to the party and stay put with the mandate that has been accorded to them."
He added, "What should be questioned and worrisome is the extremes to which BJP is going in terms of acquiring power, deliberately attempting to crush democracy and public mandate in the process."