News Analysis India

Tag: Sanjeev Arya

  • Jolt to BJP in Uttarakhand as Yashpal Arya is big leader from backward section

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  In a setback to the BJP ahead of the Assembly elections, Uttarakhand Cabinet minister Yashpal Arya and his MLA son returned to the Congress on Monday. A prominent leader from the backward community, Arya along with son Sanjeev met former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi before joining the party. He had left the Congress ahead of the 2017 elections after his son was not given party ticket.

    The joining Congress holds importance as former chief minister Harish Rawat had recently said that the party may have a Dalit chief minister on the lines of Punjab. Arya was a speaker and minister during the erstwhile Congress rule in the hill state.   

    “It is my ‘ghar wapsi’ as I have returned to my family. If the Congress emerges stronger, then democracy will be strengthened further,” said Arya.  While the six-time MLA represents Bajpur (SC) constituency, his son Sanjeev represents Nainital. 

    The Congress said that Arya’s come back is a positive sign that it will win in the state.  “This is one of the happiest moments for the Congress party as Yashpal and Sanjeev Arya have decided to join the Congress, giving a clear-cut indication of coming elections in Uttarakhand. The wind is in favour of the Congress in Uttarakhand,” General Secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal told reporters after the father-son duo formally joined the party which is eyeing to trounce the ruling BJP in Uttarakhand.

  • Unease in Uttarakhand BJP due to latest defections

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: Coming ahead of Union home minister Amit Shah’s visit, the exits of Yashpal and Sanjeev Arya have caused a stir among the BJP rank and file in Uttarakhand. Sources in the BJP said that state leaders were summoned by the central leadership to explain the defections.

    “The meeting will take place either in Uttarakhand or Delhi. This (exits) will also be discussed in the home minister’s meeting. Though there was a talk of Arya and his son rejoining the Congress, it has raised a question on the functioning of the party as well as the government,” said a party insider. 

    Yashpal Arya had joined the BJP in January 2017, just before the Assembly elections. Before him, nine rebel MLAs left the Congress for the BJP in 2016. Now, the exits have sparked rumours of others, including Harak Singh Rawat and Satpal Maharaj, taking the same route. The opposition Congress has already formed a panel to oversee ‘ghar wapsi’ of those leaders and workers who were either expelled or voluntarily left the party in last five-six years. 

    In November last year, Cabinet minister Harak Singh Rawat had sparked speculations of rejoining the Congress when he commented that there were no permanent friends and adversaries in politics. Political experts asserted  that both parties are betting on every seat in the 70-member Assembly as every seat matters. Meanwhile, voices of dissent within the Congress have started emerging. Sarita Arya, women’s wing of the party, said if Sanjeev Arya gets ticket from Nainital, she would be forced to think of leaving the party.