In signs of a thaw in the infighting-riddled Himachal Pradesh unit of the Congress, state minister Vikramaditya Singh has decided not to “press his resignation” hours after tendering it. He pointed out, however, that there is a difference between taking back his resignation and deciding not to press for it being accepted. 

Six Congress MLAs had cross-voted in favour of the BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha election on Tuesday, leading to the party suffering a stunning defeat.

Amid a possible threat to the survival of the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government, Mr Singh had announced his resignation as the Public Works minister on Wednesday morning. The minister had accused Mr Sukhu of “negligence” towards MLAs and disrespecting his late father and former chief minister Virbhadra Singh. 

After a day of high drama, Mr Singh said in the evening, “I have spoken to the observers that were sent by the party high command. The organisation is more important than one individual. Keeping the organisation strong is every individual’s responsibility. In the larger interest of the party and the unity of the party, I will not press my resignation that was rejected by the chief minister earlier today.”

When reporters asked him whether this meant the threat to the government was over, the minister said, “There was no crisis to begin with. It was a creation. A solution can be found to everything if people work together and take a positive approach. We are here to serve the people of the state and governing is the way to do that. Strengthening the government and serving the people by doing so is everyone’s responsibility.”

Sounding a cautionary note while speaking to news agency ANI, the minister said there is a difference between taking back his resignation and deciding not to press it. “I have said I have spoken to the observers and I will not be pressing my resignation until a final decision is taken.

Rajiv Shukla, Congress’ Himachal in-charge, however, said that the government has a majority and there is no threat to it.

‘Disrespect’

Earlier in the day, Mr Singh had asserted that the 2022 Assembly polls in Himachal were fought and won in the name of his father and former chief minister Virbhadra Singh, who was the tallest Congress leader in the state. After the Congress won 40 out of the 68 Seats, Vikramaditya Singh and his mother Pratibha SIngh, who is the state party chief, were among the frontrunners for the chief minister’s post, but lost out to Mr Sukhu. 

“In the past year, I have not said a word on the government’s functioning. But it is my responsibility to the people to speak out now… The way the government has functioned, the negligence towards MLAs, the drowning of their voices has led us to this point,” the minister had said.

An emotional Mr Singh had also accused the government of disrespecting Virbhadra Singh, alleging that it failed to find land to erect his statue. 

Threat Parried?

The Sukhu government faced a major test on Wednesday, a day after six Congress MLAs cross-voted for the BJP Rajya Sabha candidate, Harsh Mahajan. Three Independents who were backing the government also voted for Mr Mahajan, leading to a tie of 34 votes each between him and the Congress’ Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

This spelled trouble for the government, which needed to get the Budget passed on Wednesday and knew that not being able to do so would prove that it lacked a majority in the House. It managed to stave off that threat, however, after 15 BJP MLAs were expelled from the Assembly for “sloganeering and misconduct”, allowing the Congress to have a working majority. 

The Assembly was also then adjourned sine die, foiling a reported plan by the BJP to move a no-confidence motion. 

A day after dismissing the buzz about his BJP switch, Congress veteran Kamal Nath on Wednesday told the party workers that he would not “impose” himself on them and would “leave” if they want him to.

Addressing a meeting of the party workers at Harrai on his home turf Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh, the 77-year-old leader said he had been receiving their love and trust for many years.

“If you want to bid farewell to Kamal Nath, it’s your choice. I am ready to leave. I don’t want to impose myself. This is a matter of your choice,” the former MP chief minister told the gathering.

छिन्दवाड़ा ज़िले की अमरवाड़ा विधानसभा के ब्लाक हर्रई में ब्लाक कांग्रेस कार्यकर्ता सम्मेलन मे सम्मिलित हुआ। pic.twitter.com/xUycKJXioo

— Kamal Nath (@OfficeOfKNath) February 28, 2024

Mr Nath’s son Nakul Nath is a Lok Sabha member from the Chhindwara Lok Sabha constituency.

The senior Nath had already announced that Nakul will contest again from this seat.

The veteran politician, who represents the Chhindwara assembly seat, said the BJP projects itself aggressively but Congress workers should not panic.

“We have to vote for securing the future and I have trust in all of you,” he said.

Mr Nath said the Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya belongs to all, suggesting that the BJP should not take credit for its construction.

“Does the BJP own the Ram temple? It belongs to all, including me. The temple is constructed with public money. The Supreme Court gave a verdict and since they (BJP) are in power, they constructed the temple,” he said.

Mr Nath also said he worshipped Lord Ram and constructed a big temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman on the land owned by him in Chhindwara.

“We are religious people and keep our culture intact,” he said.

Amid speculations that he might join the BJP, the veteran politician on Tuesday dismissed them as a “media creation”.

“You (media) are making such speculations and nobody else is saying so. Have you ever heard from me? You run the news and ask me. You should refute this news,” Mr Nath told reporters on Tuesday. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan, main accused in Sandeshkhali case, has been arrested, police said.. The leader and his associates have been accused of sexual atrocities on women and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali.

Sheikh Shahjahan was arrested around midnight in the North 24 Parganas district by a special Bengal police team. He had been on the run for 55 days. After the arrest, he was taken to the Basirhat court.

The team had been monitoring the leader’s activities for several days leading up to the arrest, officials said.

The arrest comes three days after the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice ordered to add Sheikh Shahjahan to the Sandeshkhali case.

On February 26, Calcutta HC Justice asked to issue a notice in the case and said, “There is no reason to not arrest him.”

“Public notice shall be given in this case. There is no stay order in Sandeshkhali cases. There is no reason to not arrest him,” the Court said.

Sandeshkhali in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district has been witnessing widespread protests against the Trinamool Congress strongman Shahjahan Sheikh this month as a section of women are seeking justice against alleged atrocities committed by the TMC leader.

A large number of women in Sandeshkhali had accused Trinamool Congress strongman Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters of “land-grab and sexual assault” under coercion. The leader who had been on the run since January 5, has been previously embroiled in several criminal cases, including the murder of 3 BJP workers in 2019.

The Enforcement Directorate has accused Sheikh Shahjahan of money laundering in the ration and land scams. There were also allegations of violence against power department employees in West Bengal, resulting in an FIR filed against him.