23 March
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
In the midst of escalating political turmoil in Himachal Pradesh, nine former MLAs have made a significant move by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Among them are six rebel Congress MLAs, namely Sudhir Sharma, Ravi Thakur, Rajendra Rana, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Chaitanya Sharma, and Devendra Kumar Bhutto. Their decision to switch allegiance came after being disqualified for violating the party whip.
The induction ceremony, attended by prominent leaders including Union Minister Anurag Thakur and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, marked a pivotal moment in the state’s political landscape. The Election Commission promptly announced by-elections for the constituencies left vacant by the disqualified MLAs, indicating a forthcoming electoral showdown.
Furthermore, the resignation of three independent MLAs – Ashish Sharma, Hoshiar Singh, and KL Thakur – adds to the uncertainty, as their constituencies are also likely to witness by-elections. This development underscores the volatility gripping Himachal Pradesh’s political arena, with the upcoming contests poised to redefine the state’s governance trajectory.