Poor performance of the Congress in the State notwithstanding, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh refused to step down saying that he had the mandate of the people to run a Government for five years, which he would fulfil.
Flanked by senior Minister Vidya Stokes and the young Minister Sudhir Sharma at a hurriedly convened Press conference, the Chief Minister categorically said, “I have no intention to resign.”When pointed out that Tarun Gogoi, Chief Minister of Assam, had offered to resign for the poor performance of the party in the State, Virbhadra reacted, “He may have his compulsions to resign, I have none. Just over a year ago, the voters elected my Government for a full five year term and I intend to honour the mandate.”
Rubbishing opposition leader Prem Kumar Dhumal’s statement seeking resignation of the Chief Minister for the party’s poor performance, Virbhadra said that there was a stable Government in Himachal which would last its term.“I would like to tell Dhumal that if wishes were horses, beggars would ride,” he said.Ruling out any anti-incumbency against the State Government in the elections, he cited the ‘Modi wave’ for making a clean sweep in Himachal also. “I congratulate Narendra Modi for the victory and hope that he fulfilled the aspirations that he has aroused,” he said.