As electioneering reaches a crescendo in the country for the phased lok sabha elections the tiny hill state of Himachal which has four parliamentary constituencies will see an intriguing battle in the bypolls being held simultaneously with the lok sabha elections after the expulsion of 6 MLA’S from the Congress and their joining the BJP along with 3 independents. after their cross voting in the upper house elctions.
However it’s the allotment of BJP tickets to these 6 rebels and 3 independents in preference to the very people whom they had defeated in the 2022 assembly elections under the Congress banner which has set the cat amongst the pigeons.
Thus it’s the 9 by-elections which hold great interest in himachal as compared to the 4 lok sabha seats which will also be simultaneously going to the polls on the 1st of June.
It would be intriguing and interesting to see if the BJP is able to placate and pacify the people who have been denied party tickets in preference to the 6 turncoats and 3 independents.
The results of these bypolls more than that of the 4 lok sabha seats will decide the fate of the Sukhu government in Himachal. The Congress presently has 34 MLA’S in a house of 68 and is just holding on to a simple majority.
The BJP is hoping that it can wrest the initiative from the Congress by winning all 9 bypolls and thus be in a position to topple the Sukhwinder singh sukhu government.
However even if the BJP wins all 9 seats which seems highly unlikely it would equal the Congress number of 34 in the 68 member house which could trigger another round of horse trading
On the other hand the Congress and the CM himself has been alleging in all the rallies that these political turncoats were bought by the BJP after paying huge sums and should be rejected by the electorate.
It would be interesting to see if the people of Himachal vote in favour of these 9 ex MLA’S turned political turncoats or give their verdict in favour of the new Congress candidates for that will not only decide the fate of the Sukhu government which still has three and a half years remaining but also that of these 9 MLA’S ( 6 congressmen & 3 independents) who switched sides and disobeyed the party whip in the Rajya sabha elections.
