Shimla, July 8
In a heated address during the final phase of the Himachal Pradesh by-elections, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu accused three BJP candidates of selling their Independent MLA memberships. Speaking at rallies in Dehra and Hamirpur, Sukhu alleged that former MLAs Hoshiyar Singh (Dehra), Ashish Sharma (Hamirpur), and K L Thakur orchestrated a plan to resign under BJP’s influence and recontest on BJP tickets.
The Chief Minister claimed these MLAs were pressured by the BJP to resign, leading them to stage protests outside the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha and seek judicial intervention to expedite their resignations. Sukhu further alleged that the MLAs were promised monetary compensation, which they received only after their resignations were accepted on June 2.
In support of his wife, Kamlesh Kumari, and Pushpendra, the Congress candidates for Dehra and Hamirpur, respectively, Sukhu criticized the three BJP candidates for their alleged lack of integrity. He argued that their actions forced unnecessary elections on the people of Dehra, Hamirpur, and Nalagarh, accusing them of joining the BJP for financial gain.
The Chief Minister also mentioned a failed attempt by the BJP to sway six Congress MLAs, a move that ultimately strengthened the Congress’s position in the state assembly from 34 to 38 seats.
In response to Sukhu’s similar public statements, the three former Independent MLAs and a former Congress MLA have filed defamation suits against him.
As the campaign period concludes today, voters in the three constituencies will cast their ballots on July 10, with results to be announced on July 13. Twelve candidates, including three from both the Congress and BJP, are competing in these critical by-elections.
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