Privilege Motion meets Counter-Privilege Motion: Himachal witnesses a new Political twist
Shimla, Sept 3,
The Himachal Pradesh Assembly has been thrown into an unusual political storm where a privilege motion has triggered a counter-privilege notice, deepening the tussle between the ruling Congress and BJP MLA from Dharamshala, Sudhir Sharma.
What began with Sharma moving a privilege motion against Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu — accusing him of misleading the House on employment data — has now snowballed into ten Congress legislators filing a breach of privilege notice against Sharma himself. Their charge: that the BJP MLA circulated his motion against the CM on social media, thereby “maligning” Sukhu’s image and undermining the dignity of the Speaker.
Also read:BJP MLA Sudhir Sharma moves privilege motion against Himachal CM over ‘False job, health claims’
The Congress MLAs have asked Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania to refer the matter to the Privilege Committee, marking what many see as a rare instance of privilege meeting privilege in the Assembly’s political battlefield.
At the heart of the dispute lies Sharma’s claim of discrepancies in the government’s employment figures — 34,000 jobs announced during last year’s monsoon session, 25,000 mentioned in the 2025-26 Budget, and 23,000 cited in the Independence Day speech. However, the Speaker rejected Sharma’s motion, pointing out that it was filed as a DO letter and lacked reference to any specific rule under the Assembly’s Conduct of Business Rules, making it invalid.
Not ready to let go, ruling party members struck back with a counter-motion under Rule 75, alleging that Sharma’s decision to publicize the matter outside the House amounted to breach of privilege.
The episode reflects the growing political friction in Himachal Pradesh, where Sharma — once a Congress leader, now in the BJP camp — has increasingly locked horns with Sukhu’s government. His alliance with Independent MLA Ashish Sharma has further sharpened the political divide.
With both sides trading privilege motions, the state Assembly is now set to witness whether the Speaker refers the Congress petition to the Privilege Committee. For now, the unusual spectacle of “privilege versus privilege” has turned the State into a new arena of political brinkmanship.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
