Amid escalating political turmoil in Himachal Pradesh, eleven MLAs, including six rebels and three independents, have sought refuge in the BJP-governed state of Uttarakhand, exposing deep-seated factionalism within the ranks of the state Congress.

Reports indicate that the group, escorted by heavy security, arrived in Rishikesh’s Taj Hotel aboard a bus bearing Haryana registration plates on Saturday, intensifying speculations regarding the ongoing power struggle within the state’s political corridors.

This development comes on the heels of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s recent visit to Delhi for discussions with top Congress brass concerning the prevailing political climate in the state and preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Among the dissident MLAs are Sudhir Sharma, Rajinder Rana, Davinder K Bhutto, Ravi Thakur, Chaitanya Sharma, and Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, who faced disqualification from the Assembly under anti-defection laws. With the Congress holding 40 seats and the BJP 25 in the 68-member state assembly post-2022 elections, independents command the remaining three seats.

The rebel legislators, alleged to have engaged in cross-voting during recent Rajya Sabha polls, have now become central figures in the BJP’s unexpected surge, securing nine additional votes despite possessing a minority in the assembly.

When pressed about his communication with the dissenting MLAs, Sukhu reiterated his commitment to serving the public interest, asserting that neither he nor his council of ministers have been approached by any of the defectors.

In a defiant tone, Sukhu accused the opposition BJP of orchestrating a clandestine bid to destabilize his government by providing protection to the renegade Congress MLAs under the watchful gaze of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Furthermore, Sukhu alleged that familial pressures are being exerted upon the defectors to abandon their secessionist tendencies and return to their home state. Citing social media reports, he claimed that the rebel MLAs had been spirited away from their temporary abode in Panchkula, hinting at clandestine maneuvers orchestrated to coerce their return.

The unfolding drama underscores the precarious balance of power in Himachal Pradesh, as both the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP engage in a high-stakes game of political brinkmanship that threatens to reshape the state’s political landscape in the days to come.