Post rebellion by 6 MLAs, Himachal bypoll results consolidate Sukhvinder Sukhu’s position in Congress

Pratibha Chauhan

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Shimla, July 13

The results of the three byelections have consolidated the position of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who had faced the worst-ever rebellion in the political history of Himachal, from six Congress legislators.

The decision of the Congress high command to field his wife Kamlesh Thakur from Dehra on the basis of surveys, which indicated she was the strongest candidate against two-time Independent MLA Hoshiyar Singh, finally paid off.

Her victory becomes even more significant in the light of the fact that she was virtually pushed into contesting the byelection though she had no political aspirations. Sukhu’s assertion that Kamlesh was only following the high command’s orders and would not contest the 2027 Assembly elections helped him dismiss the BJP’s allegation of dynastic politics.

Sukhu has been able to send a strong signal to his detractors within the party that he has managed to take on the BJP, which has been trying to destabilise the democratically-elected Congress government, by securing the public mandate.

Apart from the revolt by six MLAs, Sukhu also faced an open challenge to his leadership from his ministerial colleague Vikramaditya Singh, son of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. It is no secret that Virbhadra Singh and Sukhu remained arch rivals and never saw eye to eye. The feud seems to have continued even after his demise. Since Sukhu and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri were the contenders for the Chief Minister’s post, the two did not share bonhomie.

Sukhu’s appeal to the electorate against the BJP’s failed ‘Operation Lotus’ after the Rajya Sabha poll seems to have found support among people, as the Congress won six of the nine Assembly byelections held this year.

The byelection results have come as a shot in the arm for Sukhu despite the fact that six Congress legislators had revolted against the party by cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha election on February 27, 2024. They had also demanded a change in the leadership in the state.

They had cross-voted in the favour of BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan, paving the way for their disqualification from the Vidhan Sabha for defying the party whip when the Budget was being passed in the Assembly.

The Congress had won four of the six Assembly byelections held along with the Lok Sabha elections in June. The credit also goes to Sukhu for the party’s victory in the byelections in Gagret and Kutlehar (Una), Sujanpur (Hamirpur) and Lahaul-Spiti.

Interestingly, the Congress’ strength in the Assembly has again risen to 40 even after the disqualification of six party MLAs.