The Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed the state’s fiscal year 2022-23 budget amidst persistent political upheaval and apprehensions of a coup. The ruling Congress Party, led by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, managed to secure the budget’s passage despite facing significant challenges from opposition parties and internal dissent within its ranks.
The budget, which was presented by Finance Minister Suresh Bhardwaj, was passed by a voice vote in the assembly after a marathon session that lasted for several days. The budget, which totals around Rs 52,000 crore, focuses on key sectors such as health, education, and infrastructure, with an emphasis on rural development and job creation.
The passage of the budget is seen as a major victory for the Congress Party, which has been struggling to maintain its hold on power in the state. The party has faced significant challenges in recent months, including a rebellion by several of its MLAs who have been demanding a change in leadership.
The rebellion has been led by former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who has been openly critical of Thakur’s leadership and has called for a change in the party’s leadership. Singh, who is a senior leader of the Congress Party and a former Union Minister, has accused Thakur of being a puppet of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has called for his removal from the post of Chief Minister.
The rebellion has also been fueled by allegations of corruption and mismanagement against Thakur’s government. Several MLAs, including some from the Congress Party, have accused the Chief Minister of favoritism and nepotism, and have called for a change in leadership to address these issues.
Despite the challenges, the Congress Party has managed to hold on to power in the state, at least for now. The passage of the budget is seen as a major victory for the party, as it demonstrates that it still has the support of a majority of the MLAs in the assembly.
The internal dissent within the party is still ongoing, and there are concerns that it could intensify in the upcoming months. The Congress Party is facing a tough battle to retain power in Himachal Pradesh, and the passage of the budget is just the first step in what promises to be a long and difficult road ahead.
