Shimla, Nov 2 (PTI) As many as 16 BJP MLAs are not in a position to win the 2027 Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, and the number of seats the saffron party could win in the state would further go down, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Monday.
Responding to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's statement on Sunday that BJP would return with a strong mandate and establish a government in Himachal Pradesh, Sukhu said the saffron party is split into five distinct factions in the state and not in a position to win.
"As many as 16 BJP legislators are not in a position to win the upcoming Assembly elections, and the number of winnable seats of the BJP would further go down," the chief minister told reporters.
At present, the ruling Congress has 40 MLAs while the opposition BJP has 28 MLAs in the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly.
Sukhu said the Congress would invite all chief ministers to its swearing-in ceremony in 2027 as it is certain to form the government again, and the Assam chief minister too would get an invitation.
Referring to INDIA bloc's mega rally in Delhi on Sunday, he said raising public voice, organising rallies, and staging protests are essential in a democratic system.
Sukhu said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's efforts to highlight alleged irregularities in electoral rolls are receiving widespread public support.
Referring to the state's economic situation, the chief minister said that despite the Central government reducing the Revenue Deficit Grant from Rs 10,000 crore to approximately Rs 8,000 crore, the state government has successfully maintained financial balance.
Drawing the analogy of a household managing its budget when income declines, he said the state government has similarly managed its finances amid limited resources. Despite constraints, the government has released the Dearness Allowance instalments to its employees, he added.
