BJP failed to "topple" Congress govt in Himachal Pradesh: HP Dy CM Mukesh Agnihotri

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], March 24 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has failed to topple the Congress government in the state and is trying to destabilise it.
Speaking to ANI, Mukesh Agnihotri on Sunday said, "Bharatiya Janata Party has failed to topple the Congress government in the state. The BJP is making more unsuccessful efforts to destabilise the government."
The Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister further said that the people of the state will decide and vote in favour of Congress in the by-elections.
He said that the state government is in the majority and that senior leaders like Shanta Kumar have started speaking about the misdeeds of the BJP.
"Nearly over a year ago, the public gave a mandate in favour of the Congress party and a Congress government. The BJP is in opposition, after the recent incident 6 MLAs have left the Congress party and joined BJP. Now, the strength of the House is 62. Three independents have also resigned but the Speaker will take a call on that... The BJP has 25 members and we have 34. We have 9 members more than the BJP... The mathematics is in our favour... The people will make the decision on June 1..."
Agnihotri said that the party has started working to devise strategies ahead of Assembly By-elections and Lok Sabha polls.
"Today we are holding a meeting on political affairs. We shall devise strategies on the 27th we will conduct the meeting of the Coordination Committee in Chandigarh. We will boost the morale of the workers and will ensure them that whatever happens the government will not topple," said Agnihotri.
The BJP has taken a stance that the Government in the state will also change in the state with the Union government, we shall work on the damage control. And we are intact and are preparing for elections." he added.
On being asked about the BJP's claim that more Congress MLAs may join the BJP he said that they are trying to adopt pressure tactics but they will not be successful as finally, the court of the public will decide.
"We shall do surveys and will distribute tickets. We shall plan campaign strategies and I am sure that we shall win the majority and the government will be stable and will run for five years." added the deputy Chief minister
The Deputy Chief Minister answering the allegations said that what has happened now the people of Himachal Pradesh will decide the Congress party government is in the majority and people will give a mandate in favour of Congress in By-elections also.
Adding further, Agnihotri alleged, "BJP is trying to put psychological pressure on our MLAs, we are intact and we are heading towards stability and we shall run the government for five years."
In mounting troubles for the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh, six party rebels and three independent MLAs joined the Bharatiya Janata Party earlier this month.
All the six rebels had voted for the BJP candidate during the Rajya Sabha polls leading to Harsh Mahajan's surprise win from the hill state.
Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi lost the election. The six Congress MLAs were disqualified by the Assembly Speaker for defying a whip to be present in the House during the state's budget session.
The Election Commission has already announced bypolls on the six seats which will be held on June 1 along with polling on four Lok Sabha seats.
With the disqualification of the six MLAs, the number of Congress MLAs in Himachal Pradesh has come down to 34 from 40 in the 68-member House. (ANI)