News Brief
11 Himachal Pradesh MLAs Including Six Congress Rebels Shift Base To Uttarakhand Amid Ongoing Political Turmoil
Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (Facebook)
In the latest turn of events, 11 MLAs, including six rebels from the Congress party in Himachal Pradesh made their way to the BJP-ruled state of Uttarakhand on Saturday (9 March).
The group disembarked from a bus with Haryana's number plate at Rishikesh's Taj Hotel, as reported by Hindustan Times.
The development comes two days after Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu visited Delhi on being summoned by the Congress top brass.
Sukhu's trip to the national capital was reportedly aimed at presenting a report on the prevailing political situation and engaging in discussions regarding the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
When questioned about the possibility of reinstating the six rebel MLAs, Sukhu expressed a willingness to provide another chance to those who acknowledge their mistakes.
Earlier, Himachal minister Vikramaditya Singh revealed his role as a mediator between the Congress high command and the rebel faction, emphasising that the next move rested with the national leadership.
It's important to note that last month, the six rebels, along with three independent MLAs, sided with the BJP during the Rajya Sabha elections, resulting in a significant setback for the Congress.
Following their actions, the six MLAs faced disqualification, prompting them to challenge the Speaker's decision in the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, the Congress deployed senior leaders, including Karnataka's deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar and former chief ministers Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Bhupesh Baghel, to navigate through the crisis.
