"Observers have reached Shimla, will talk to dissidents": Sachin Pilot amid clouds over Cong govt in Himachal

Sikar (Rajasthan) [India], February 28 (ANI): As the Congress lurched into a fresh political crisis in Himachal Pradesh, fighting to stay afloat in the only heartland state it rules, senior party leader Sachin Pilot on Wednesday said the grand old party deputed observers, who have reached Shimla and will speak to dissident leaders in the state amid a rumoured rebellion in the ranks.

Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, the former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan said he was hopeful that all diferences and discord will be resolved soon.

"Our Rajya Sabha candidate from Himachal Pradesh, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, could not win the elections  as some of our MLAs cross-voted. The party highcommand appointed observers, who have arrived in Shimla and will talk to all of them (dissident leaders). I hope the matter will be resolved soon,” Pilot said.

Taking a swipe at the BJP-led NDA at the Centre, the former Union Minister added that in its 10 years at the helm, the ruling combine failed to live up to their promises, especially those to the farmers.

On the Congress's rout in the Assembly polls to the key heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh last year, Pilot said, "While we lost the Assembly elections (in the three heartland states), our vote share wasn't much less than that of the BJP. Looking at the 10-year report card of the BJP (at the Centre), they have failed all their promises, especially those made to farmers. The BJP wants to fight the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on emotive issues while we want to contest the polls on issues such as crop procurement, investment, and unemployment, among others,” the senior Congress leader said.

On the INDIA bloc, which has been handicapped over rising differences between partners over seat-sharing, the Congress leader said, "INDIA (bloc) is very strong. We have announced seat-sharing pacts in 3-4 states. This has got the BJP worried and they are trying to lure our leaders away. However, people come and go before elections. It happens before every election. These elections are between NDA and the INDIA bloc and we are ready."

However, amid fears of a churn at the helm of Himachal a day after 6 Congress MLAs cross-voted for the BJP during polling for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Himachal, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday claimed that the conspiracy to bring down the Congress government in the state had failed.

"They conspired to topple our government in Himachal with the help of the CRPF and Haryana Police, and by sending choppers (to airlift Congress MLAs elsewhere). However, the plot to bring down our government has been defeated. They tried luring some our legislators through monetary inducements and bring them to their side. However, we have brought a disqualification motion against them (Congress MLAs who voted for the BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls) and hearing on the same is underway," Sukhu told reporters on Wednesday.

He claimed that one of the dissident MLAs, who cross-voted during the casting of votes for the Rajya Sabha polls on Tuesday, prompting BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan to script a stunning win in a draw of lots, has apologised.

"One of the MLAs (who cross-voted for the BJP candidate) has asked for forgiveness for betraying the party and the whip. I don't want to take his name. He said he erred in his decision-making. The hearing on the disqualification case is underway," CM Sukhu said. (ANI)