The political storm raging in Himachal Pradesh following the cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha elections shows no sign of abating. Despite being in the majority, Congress faced defeat because six of its legislators switched sides, with repercussions that included the suspension of their memberships by the Speaker.
Captain Plays a Key Role
The whispers in political corridors suggest that Captain Amarinder Singh played a pivotal role behind the scenes in this entire episode. Sources indicate that the Captain, once considered sidelined within the party, was handed the responsibility for Himachal Pradesh. Amarinder skillfully leveraged the dissension within the royal circles of Himachal and capitalized on his connections.
Captain was in Contact with Legislators
A source close to the party, on condition of anonymity, stated that the former Chief Minister of Punjab was the ideal choice for the task due to his ties with the Himachal royalties. It is believed that the Captain managed to involve a legislative group of six in Himachal Congress and provided constant helicopter service for their travels. Moreover, he had direct contact with the three independent legislators who voted in BJP's favor.
Personal Relationships Proved Beneficial!
Since Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was chosen as the CM of Himachal Pradesh, sidelining the royal family, the BJP sensed the discontent and assigned 'necessary steps' to Captain Amarinder. Congress party was aware of the Captain's assignment months prior, and about 15 days before the election, an 'actionable' plan was devised but not acted upon.
The late Maharaja Virbhadra Singh's daughter is married to a family member of Captain Amarinder Singh, tightening their bond. Aprajita, the fifth daughter, married Angad, the son of Captain's daughter Jai Inder Kaur—who is wed to Gurpal Singh, a Delhi-based businessman.
The Twist in the Rajya Sabha Election
There was one seat at stake in the Rajya Sabha election in Himachal Pradesh. It required 35 MLA votes to win. With 40 MLAs, Congress was confident about Abhishek Manu Singhvi's victory. However, despite having only 25 MLAs and needing 10 more votes, BJP nominated Harsh Mahajan.
During the election, six Congress MLAs cross-voted and three independents also supported BJP's candidate, leading to a tie of 34 votes each for BJP and Congress candidates. The winner, Harsh Mahajan of BJP, was eventually decided by a draw.
