Rajya Sabha Elections 2024: In the recent Rajya Sabha election held in Himachal Pradesh, political dynamics took a surprising turn as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) contested with Harsh Mahajan against the presumed frontrunner, Congress. The contest gained intrigue with rumors of cross-voting swirling around, suggesting a potential upset in the otherwise predictable outcome.Rajya Sabha Elections 2024: Cross-voting speculationsReports surfaced indicating that nine Congress MLAs allegedly engaged in cross-voting, throwing uncertainty into the electoral equation. These MLAs purportedly cast their ballots in favor of the BJP candidate, Harsh Mahajan. However, the validity of these claims remains to be verified, with the results scheduled for announcement later in the evening.Amidst the voting process, all 68 MLAs of Himachal Pradesh participated, with Congress MLA Sudarshan Kumar Bablu notably casting his vote despite his health concerns, having been airlifted for the occasion.Rajya Sabha Elections 2024: Response from CM Sukhwinder Singh SukhuIn response to the cross-voting allegations, Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu asserted that the integrity of the Congress party remains intact, emphasizing the ideological commitment of its members. He dismissed notions of MLAs being swayed by financial incentives, attributing such insinuations to the opposition BJPs lack of moral conscience.Rajya Sabha Elections 2024: Harsh Mahajans retortOpposition candidate Harsh Mahajan criticized the Chief Ministers remarks, labeling them as baseless and indicative of desperation. Mahajan expressed confidence in the Congress MLAs adherence to their convictions, dismissing suggestions of internal discord within the party.Rajya Sabha Elections 2024: Potential discontent within CongressWhile Congress State President Pratibha Singh reassured unity within the party ranks, acknowledging the possibility of disgruntlement among certain members, she maintained confidence in their collective commitment to the partys principles. Singh underscored the BJPs attempts to destabilize the government, urging for strategic unity within the Congress to counter such challenges.Rajya Sabha Elections 2024: The electoral mathWith Congress holding 40 seats in the 68-member Himachal Assembly, and purportedly supported by three independent MLAs, victory for BJPs Harsh Mahajan hinges on securing the backing of seven Congress MLAs and three independent legislators.As the results unfold, the political landscape in Himachal Pradesh stands poised for a potential shift, highlighting the intricacies of power dynamics and party allegiance in the state.
