“We believe in forgiveness, not revenge”: CM Sukhu amid turmoil

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Wednesday that all other party leaders were like his younger siblings amid the political unrest in Himachal Pradesh following six Congress MLAs’ cross-voting during Tuesday’s polling for the state’s lone Rajya Sabha seat. It is noteworthy to note that his party believes in “forgiveness” rather than “revenge.”

Amid political turmoil in Himachal Pradesh following six Congress MLAs’ cross-voting during Tuesday’s polling for the state’s lone Rajya Sabha seat, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu declared on Wednesday that all other party leaders were like his younger siblings. It is interesting to observe that his party favors “forgiveness” above “revenge.”

“Vikramaditya Singh is my younger brother and I have spoken to him,” the chief minister said in response to state minister Vikramaditya Singh’s resignation.
“They [Congress MLAs who voted for the BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha seat by crossing their votes] ought to have respected the party more.” They might not like me, but someone like Abhishek Singhvi ought to have been chosen to represent Himachal Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha. They did not vote for him, though, and instead betrayed the whip. In the history of Himachal Pradesh politics, nothing like this had ever occurred, CM Sukhu continued.

The Congress appointed observers who arrived in Shimla on Wednesday as the party plunged into yet another political crisis in Himachal Pradesh, where it is fighting to survive in the only heartland state it controls.
CM Sukhu stated following his meeting with party observers, “A discussion about elections was held. There is safety for our government.”

Senior party leader Sachin Pilot expressed optimism on Wednesday that tensions and disagreements would soon be settled.
“Some of our MLAs cast cross-party votes, which prevented our Himachal Pradesh-based Rajya Sabha candidate, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, from winning the election. Opinion leaders have designated observers. Pilot expressed hope that the issue would be resolved quickly.
However, the chief minister earlier in the day asserted that the plot to overthrow the Congress government in the state had failed, raising concerns about a potential shakeup in Himachal a day after six Congress MLAs cast ballots for the BJP during elections for the state’s lone Rajya Sabha seat.

“They used the CRPF, the Haryana Police, and helicopters to plot the overthrow of our government in Himachal Pradesh (in order to airlift Congress MLAs elsewhere).” But the scheme to overthrow our government has failed. They attempted to entice a few of our lawmakers to support them by offering financial incentives. But we have filed a motion to disqualify them (the Congress MLAs who supported the BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections), and the hearing on that motion is currently in progress,” Sukhu informed reporters on Wednesday.

He stated that a dissident MLA had apologized for casting a ballot during Tuesday’s Rajya Sabha elections, which resulted in BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan securing an unexpected victory through a drawing of lots.
“One of the MLAs has asked for pardon for abandoning the party and the whip, having cast a cross-party vote for the BJP candidate. I refuse to adopt his name. He claimed that his decision-making was flawed. “The disqualification case hearing is currently in progress,” CM Sukhu announced.