SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu claimed that there is no visible "Virbhadra Singh camp" in the state Congress and expressed no regrets for disqualified six Congress MLAs as they tried to bring down his government.
During in an interview with BBC here today Sukhu claimed that out of 34 (excluding six disqualified MLAs), 32 MLAs are with him.
"There is no threat to his government. Even those who were earlier with the Virbhadra Singh camp, they are with me", he said.
Sukhu said he got a call from Vikramaditya Singh today morning regarding taking back of the disqualified six MLAs and he is free to take up their issue with the High Command.
On Relationship with Vikramaditya Singh, Sukhu clarified that there are no personal differences between him and Vikramaditya Singh, despite recent disagreements.
He attributed any conflicts to the normal course of political discourse within the party.
Referring to his "differences with late Virbhadra Singh" when he was party president, Sukhu said: "I had certain disagreements and arguments with the then CM Virbhadra Singh, but we also had cordial relations".
He said Congress fought state assembly elections on Party symbols and people of Himachal elected Congress to power.
On installation of statue of Virbhadra Singh on The Ridge, Sukhu said Vikramaditya never brought this to him and he should have been aware statue on The Ridge are of national leaders, with CM brushing aside the fact that statue of Dr YS Parmar, founder CM of Himachal and Lt Gen Daulat are on The Ridge as well.
He said Virbhadra Singh was their honourable leader and can thrash this issue out with everybody.
Rajya Sabha Elections Incident: Sukhu began by referencing the recent Rajya Sabha elections where six Congress MLAs cross-voted, leading to speculation about the stability of the government.
He highlighted how the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tried to destabilise the government encouraging Congress MLAs to cross vote thereby Congress candidate, Abhishek Manu Singhvi lost election from Himachal Pradesh, triggering discussions about the Congress government's future.
Sukhu said six MLAs and two more tried to bring down the government as the Congress had issued the whip for cut motion and finance Bill, but these six did not participate. W Even their families are unhappy".
Government Stability: Sukhu firmly asserted that his government is not in danger despite attempts by the BJP to create instability.
He expressed confidence in his government's ability to complete its term, emphasizing the mandate given by the public for five years.
Internal Party Dissent: The Chief Minister addressed internal dissent within the Congress party, particularly mentioning statements made by Vikramaditya Singh.
On PCC President Pratibha Singh raising issues of MLAs concerns, Sukhu said she is a good party leader. But maybe they want be popular in media raising these issues", he dismissed as saying.
Sukhu stressed the importance of party unity and his commitment to resolving any differences among members.
Horse-Trading Concerns: Sukhu condemned any attempts at horse-trading and reiterated his dedication to serving the people of Himachal Pradesh.
He emphasized the need to uphold the values of democracy and resist political maneuvering aimed at destabilizing the government.
Personal Background and Experience: Despite his humble background, Sukhu highlighted his extensive experience in politics, spanning over four decades. He expressed confidence in his ability to navigate through political challenges and uphold the principles of the Congress party.
While acknowledging the challenges of maintaining party unity, Sukhu remained optimistic about his government's ability to overcome obstacles.
