Vishal Sarin/ ML Verma,
Shimla, Feb 7,
As Himachal Pradesh prepares for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, the political temperature within the ruling Congress has begun to rise sharply. The recent remarks by State Congress President Vinay Kumar against BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu are being widely interpreted in political circles as more than a routine attack — they signal an attempt to consolidate ranks and pre-empt any possibility of cross-voting.
The Congress appears keen to avoid a repeat of the political setback it suffered during the 2024 Rajya Sabha elections. Despite holding a comfortable majority of 40 MLAs at the time, the party’s official candidate, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, was defeated. The victory of BJP-backed candidate Harsh Mahajan — who had crossed over from the Congress — exposed vulnerabilities in internal coordination and legislative floor management. The episode dealt a psychological blow to the ruling party and underscored that numbers alone do not guarantee outcomes.
With the term of BJP Rajya Sabha MP Indu Goswami nearing completion, the upcoming election has acquired strategic importance. For Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, ensuring party unity is not merely about winning a seat in Parliament; it is about reinforcing political authority and preventing instability ahead of the final phase of the Assembly’s tenure.
Vinay Kumar’s public endorsement of Rahul Gandhi’s description of Bittu as a “traitor” is being viewed as a calibrated political message. While directed at a national-level defection, the statement carries a clear subtext for the state’s legislators. By equating defection or cross-voting with betrayal, the party leadership appears to be building moral and psychological pressure within its own ranks.
Sources within the Congress suggest that the leadership is conscious of internal discontent among certain MLAs. The possibility of the party fielding a candidate perceived as an “outsider,” as happened in 2024, is again being discussed. The name of state in-charge Rajni Patil has surfaced in some quarters as a potential nominee. While no formal decision has been announced, the speculation has revived debate over whether local aspirations will be balanced with central leadership preferences.
The broader political context adds to the uncertainty. With less than two years left before the next Assembly elections, legislators across parties are recalibrating their strategies. In closely contested states, Rajya Sabha polls often become arenas for testing loyalty and political leverage. The Congress leadership, mindful of the BJP’s past success in engineering defections elsewhere — popularly dubbed “Operation Lotus” — appears determined to deny any such opening in Himachal.
Vinay Kumar’s remarks framed the issue in ideological terms, asserting that the Congress is a party rooted in principles and collective struggle. He argued that leaders who switch sides for political convenience weaken public trust. However, the real test will lie not in rhetoric but in legislative arithmetic and internal discipline.
For now, the Congress has drawn a clear public line: cross-voting will be viewed as political betrayal. Whether that warning will be sufficient to secure unanimity during the Rajya Sabha nominations remains to be seen.
The stage is set for another closely watched contest in Himachal’s evolving political landscape — one where perception, party cohesion, and strategic management may prove as decisive as numbers on paper.
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.
