Cabinet Unsure of Continuing In Office Should Congress Lose Elections

Shimla: Presided over by chief minister Virbhadra Singh, the Himachal cabinet, which met here today, did not reach a consensus about whether to continue in office or not, should the ruling party lose in the election count on 28th December.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh told My Himachal News, “we decided to defer the issue of whether to complete the term of the present legislative assembly or resign, should the congress lose the elections.”

The chief minister also informed that the congress party had decided not to pursue the matter of trying to withhold the electoral count till completion of the term of the present government.

Congressman and cabinet minister Sat Mahajan in his individual capacity had moved an petition before the High Court seeking to defer the count till the existing assembly completed its term in March.

“Sat Mahajan has decided not to pursue the petition,” said Virbhadra Singh.

On Saturday, the chief minister had reiterated that irrespective of the electoral verdict, the existing legislative assembly would complete is term.

A senior cabinet colleague not wishing to be revealed told My Himachal News, “If we win the elections then we can decide whether to continue with the present assembly or form a new government but should we loose then there is no harm in gracefully quitting office and sitting in the opposition.”

He disclosed that “The matter was discussed in the cabinet and no consensus could be reached about continuing in office, if we lose the peoples mandate.”

All the cabinet ministers barring Singhi Ram, the horticulture minister who was denied a party ticket, were present for the cabinet meeting.

The cabinet met while the election code of conduct is in force and most ministers were tight lipped about the decisions taken citing that election code did not permit disclosing any information.

However another minister disclosed that the cabinet had decided to extend the house allocation to BJP leader Prem Kumar Dhumal till March.

Dhumal who was the leader of the opposition in the assembly had retained the government house allotted to him after he got elected to the Lok Sabha and had to resign his seat in the assembly.

Ravinder Makhaik

As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads the team of media professionals at Hill Post.

In a career spanning over two decades through all formats of journalism in Electronic, Print and Online Media, he brings with him enough experience to steer this platform. He lives in Shimla.