Jagat Prakash Nadda, the national president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has resigned from his position as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Rajya Sabha representing Himachal Pradesh. This decision comes after his recent unopposed election to the upper house from Gujarat. His resignation was officially accepted by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha on March 4th, 2024.
In the Rajya Sabha elections, Nadda was among the 41 candidates who won seats unopposed. He was nominated as the BJP’s candidate from Gujarat, a strategic move considering the uncertain victory prospects in Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh. Despite this, the BJP managed to secure the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Himachal Pradesh after a dramatic turn of events involving cross-voting.
The victory in Himachal Pradesh was achieved through the support of six Congress MLAs who defied their party line and voted in favor of the BJP candidate. This led to a tie in the votes, which was eventually resolved by a draw-of-lots in favor of the BJP nominee, Harsh Mahajan.
The Congress, alarmed by the rebellion within its ranks, went into damage control mode to prevent further fallout. Senior party leaders were dispatched to handle the situation, and it was recommended that Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu continue as Chief Minister until the upcoming general elections.
In response to the defection, Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania announced the disqualification of the six MLAs involved. This move was aimed at maintaining party discipline and stability within the state government.
Nadda’s resignation marks a significant shift in the political landscape, with the BJP consolidating its position ahead of the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The events surrounding his resignation underscore the complexities and strategies involved in securing political power at both the state and national levels.
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