With Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu taking responsibility for Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi’s defeat in the Rajya Sabha polls, Priyanka Gandhi, a member of Congress’ first family, once again proved to be the saviour for the party in preserving the Government in the state.
After intense deliberations within the party, the nominated central observers, and Priyanka, who serves as general secretary without any specific charge, Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania on Thursday disqualified six Congress MLAs who had cross-voted in the recent Rajya Sabha polls for the lone seat in the state.”
They had also abstained from voting on Budget in the Assembly, defying a party whip to vote in favour of the Government on the Finance Bill. The ruling Congress had sought their disqualification on this ground. Following the disqualification of the rebel legislators, the effective strength of the House has reduced from 68 to 62 while the number of Congress MLAs has shrunk from 40 to 34 and the Government is safe as of now though Opposition Leader Jairam Thakur maintained that the Government will fall any day due to the disgruntled legislators and intense internal fighting.
Addressing the media in Shimla, party observers Bhupinder Hooda, D K Shivakumar said after one-to-one meetings with the Congress MLAs and deliberations with Sukhu and State Congress chief Pratibha Singh, differences have been ironed out. He also said it has been decided to form a coordination committee to sort out all internal matters and no leader would go to the press. The political crisis in Himachal Pradesh was triggered by cross-voting by six Congress MLAs in Rajya Sabha elections.
While longest serving party president Sonia Gandhi has taken a break from day to day affairs of the party Rahul Gandhi visiting abroad currently, Priyanka was instrumental in arresting the crisis similar to the one she used her acumen to consolidate the Congress-Samajwadi Party alliance for INDIA Bloc last week.
Sources in the party said Priyanka who in recent times maintained distance from major programmes including her brother led Bharat Nyay Yatra until she joined for couple of days last week, played a “pivotal” role in protecting the Congress Government in the Himalayan State by remaining in constant touch with Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and senior leaders to “foil” the BJP’s ‘operation Lotus’. Besides HP Congress remains in full majority power in Karnataka and Telangana while a coalition in Jharkhand.
Priyanka swung into action along with senior party leaders Hooda, Shivakumar and Baghel who were sent as observers on her instruction for the crisis management. “When the decision was taken Rahul was mid-air to London, who took a break from his yatra to be there for a lecture in Cambridge University,” party sources said.
Priyanka was the face of the Congress’ campaign in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections in 2022. In her earlier role as party’s trouble shooter, Priyanka had controlled the almost lost battle in the peak of Ashok Gehlot-Sachin Pilot feud in Rajasthan.
