Vandalism in Howrah over controversial painting during Durga Puja; 30 arrested
Six rebel Congress MLAs face disqualification in Himachal Pradesh as Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania takes action against their violation of party whip during the Rajya Sabha elections. Rajinder Rana, Sudhir Sharma, Indradutt Lakhanpal, Ravi Thakur, Chaitanya Sharma, and Davinder Bhutto have been suspended for cross-voting, reducing the Assembly's strength to 62 members. This move shifts the majority figure to 32, exacerbating the political turmoil in the state.
Congress observers report widespread dissatisfaction among state ministers and MLAs with Chief Minister Sukhu's leadership, citing interference in ministerial work and lack of attention to MLAs' concerns. While calls for Sukhu's dismissal persist, observers advocate maintaining status quo until elections, leaving the final decision to the party leadership. However, hopes for resolution linger as Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri and 23 Congress MLAs convene for discussions with Sukhu, though Vikramaditya Singh's absence raises speculation.
Amidst this, Vikramaditya Singh rescinds his resignation, asserting stability in Sukhu's government, despite Speaker Pathania's prior suspension of 15 BJP MLAs, including the Leader of Opposition, to avert a budget passage. The Rajya Sabha election deadlock further compounds the crisis as Congress loses its only seat, with six MLAs defecting to the BJP, underscoring the fragile political landscape in Himachal Pradesh.