Sukhu claims Himachal BJP divided into five factions

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, on Monday accused the BJP of being divided into five factions, claiming that the party had brought Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to the state to unite its leaders ahead of the next Assembly elections.

Reacting to allegations made by Sarma at the BJP’s ‘Save Democracy’ rally in Shimla, Sukhu said the Congress would return to power in Himachal Pradesh in the next Assembly elections.

Taking a dig at Sarma’s remark about attending the next oath-taking ceremony in Himachal Pradesh, Sukhu said all chief ministers would be invited when the Congress forms the next government, including the Assam Chief Minister.

He claimed that 16 of the BJP’s 28 MLAs were not in a position to win their seats again. Sukhu said the election results would establish the credibility of his assessment.

On questions being raised over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Sukhu said it was important to examine when the concerns first emerged. He pointed out that Himachal Pradesh held Assembly elections in 2022, while questions over EVMs were raised after 2024. He said the issue should be examined in the context of facts and chronology.

Highlighting his government’s policy of ‘Vyavastha Parivartan’, Sukhu said the Congress government was working towards making Himachal Pradesh self-reliant despite financial challenges following the discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) after 75 years.

He claimed that despite a reduction of around Rs 8,000 crore to Rs 10,000 crore in RDG, the state government had managed its finances successfully.

Sukhu said the state’s natural and economic resources needed to be utilised responsibly to achieve self-reliance. Emphasising his government’s stand on protecting Himachal’s assets, he said, “We are neither allowing Himachal’s wealth to be looted nor looting it ourselves. We will neither let it be looted nor allow it to be squandered.”

On the Congress and opposition parties’ rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, Sukhu said raising public concerns through rallies and protests was an important part of democracy.

He said lakhs of people attended the rally and expressed satisfaction over the public response to issues concerning democracy and electoral rolls.

Sukhu alleged irregularities through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was raising his voice against the alleged malpractice. He added that a large number of people from Himachal Pradesh also participated in the Delhi rally.

Summary (40 words):

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu accused the BJP of internal divisions, claiming it brought Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to unite its factions. He expressed confidence in Congress retaining power and defended his government’s financial management.