Himachal Leader of Opposition meets Governor day after BJP's Rajya Sabha sweep

Members of the BJP Legislative Party led by Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday met Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, a day after the party won the lone Rajya Sabha seat in the state.

The meeting comes amid speculation of the BJP bringing a motion of no-confidence in the assembly against the Congress government in the state.

After meeting the Governor, Thakur said the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government "has lost the moral right to stay in power," adding that the "damage that has been done is irreparable."

BJP leader Harsh Mahajan was elected to the upper house despite the Congress being in power in the state, after multiple Congress MLAs cross-voted in favour of the BJP.

Senior Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi lost the election.

"Some Congress MLAs have got notices over voting in the Rajya Sabha elections. Cross voting is not invalid in Rajya Sabha, as directed by the Election Commission," Thakur said.

The BJP leader said they approached the Governor against the Speaker's behaviour towards Opposition MLAs.

"We are not being heard in the Vidhan Sabha. Whenever we demand division during the financial bill, it is not allowed. The House is getting adjourned without our permission," Thakur said.

"We suspect that the Speaker could suspend BJP MLAs and some MLAs of Congress who voted for BJP in Rajya Sabha elections," he further added.

The Congress has 40 MLAs while the BJP has 25 in the 68-member state assembly, the Budget session of which begins today. The remaining three seats are held by independents.

Also Watch: Rajya Sabha polls | Congress loses Himachal Pradesh seat to 'draw of lots'