"I have support of 80 per cent MLAs," claims Himachal CM Sukhvinder Sukhu amid internal strife in Congress

Shimla: Undeterred by critical remarks made by Congress leaders and the internal rift within the state unit of the Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Saturday affirmed that he still has the support of 80 per cent MLAs.
On BJP's allegation that the chief minister was providing security to some Congress MLAs outside of protocol, chief minister Sukhu said that "horsetrading and orchestrating cross-voting" during the recent Rajya Sabha elections was triggered by the BJP.
"BJP indulged in horsetrading and got cross-voting done during Rajya Sabha elections. It is the opposition's job to level allegations, and that is what they will do," Sukhu said while speaking to ANI.
Asked about the Delhi visit of Vikramaditya Singh who is serving as the Public Works Department (PWD) minister in his government, Sukhu said, "Why can't he be in Delhi? Today he is in Rajasthan for some personal work."
Asked about speculations that Vikramaditya Singh will split from Congress to form another party, Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said, "I have no such information."
Vikramaditya Singh, the son of six-time former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had submitted his resignation as a minister in the state on Wednesday and later took back his resignation, continues to keep the Congress top brass guessing.
On Friday, Himachal Congress chief Pratibha Singh, Vikramaditya Singh's mother, praised the BJP, saying its work is better than the Congress.
"A lot of things remain to be done in Congress. As a MP, I visit my constituency and try to interact with the local people and solve their problems. It is true that the BJP's working is better than ours," the Himachal Pradesh Congress chief told ANI on Friday.
When asked about Pratibha Singh's comment, Sukhu said, "I have the support of 80 per cent MLAs and she is aware about it."
In voting for Rajya Sabha elections on Tuesday, the BJP, which has just 25 MLAs, managed to secure nine additional votes. The vote ended in a 34-34 tie, with three Independents and six Congress MLAs cross-voting for the BJP, whose candidate Harsh. Mahajan won after the result was decided with a draw of lots.
Six Congress MLAs--Sudhir Sharma, Rajinder Rana, Davinder K Bhutto, Ravi Thakur, Chaitanya Sharma and Inder Dutt Lakhanpal--cross voted during the recently held Rajya Sabha polls leading to surprise win by the BJP's candidate, Harsh Mahajan who defeated Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
BJP leaders claim that the Congress has lost the majority in the assembly. Meanwhile, Himachal Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania suspended 15 BJP MLAs from the Assembly and disqualified the six Congress MLAs.
Chief Minister Sukhu on Friday exuded confidence that his government will run for five years and accused Jairam Thakur of trying to conduct 'Operation Lotus' since he came to power in the state.