My government will last its full term

Fourteen months into his first stint as chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is fighting to save his government following an embarrassing defeat of his party's candidate in the recent Rajya Sabha elections.

- SONI MISHRA

In an exclusive interview with THE WEEK, Sukhu insists that his government has the majority and will last its full term. 

Sukhu says while there were indications about a few MLAs being unhappy, the cross-voting by six legislators in the Rajya Sabha elections was unexpected. Responding to calls for his replacement, he says 90 per cent of the MLAs support him; he says that those claiming to be dissatisfied with his style of functioning were actually looking to fulfil their personal aspirations.

Sukhu, however, says that the doors are open for the six rebel MLAs to return. Excerpts:

Q/ How safe is the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh?

A/ The Himachal Pradesh government is completely safe. We have majority. I am confident that the government will last its full five-year term. The BJP is trying to foment trouble, like it has done in other states, but we will not allow the BJP's ill-intentioned moves to succeed in Himachal Pradesh.

Q/ Were you taken by surprise that six of your MLAs indulged in cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha elections?

A/ The cross-voting was indeed a jolt