News Analysis India

Tag: Uttarakhand Assembly polls

  • Uttarakhand elections: AAP CM candidate Ajay Kothiyal to contest from Gangotri seat

    By Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: AAP Chief Minister candidate Col (Retd) Ajay Kothiyal would contest state assembly elections due next year from Gangotri state assembly constituency, announced Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday. 

    Sisodia, who was on a two-day visit in Uttarakhand, said: “It is such an auspicious moment that I announce this. In the past 20 years, the people of Uttarakhand have been cheated by two parties – the Indian National Congress and the BJP. We promise that people will never have to regret. The people of Delhi are the live example of what good work we have done.”

    The party, which has decided to contest on all 70 state assembly constituencies, has already released a list of 10 candidates earlier this month. Sisodia met the people from business community in Dehradun on Tuesday following his visit to Uttarkashi district, home of Gangotri shrine on Wednesday. 

    Sisodia promised all round development of Uttarakhand if AAP is voted to power. “The people in Uttarakhand hills have been suffering 20 years of corruption and misrule by the BJP and the Congress. Youth has no job, pregnant women have no medical facilities and people are deprived of their rights. We promise to change this with support of the people of Uttarakhand,” added Sisodia.

    Interestingly, trends reveal that the party whose candidate has won the Gangotri seat has been able to form the government in the hill state. However, the state has been under de facto two-party system with the Congress and the BJP coming to power alternately. None of the two parties have been able to form consecutive governments following the assembly elections. 

    A political analyst said: “Ganga is not a river but a focal point of faith of entire Indo-Gangetic plains and Uttarakhand hills as well. Gangotri is the origin of the river Ganga. To field Col Kothiyal from that constituency is a strategically well thought decision to counter the BJP.”

  • Temples shadow other issues in Uttarakhand politics ahead of assembly polls

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand politics, which earlier revolved around migration, corruption, drug menace, lack of infrastructure and development, has gradually shifted focus to temples, especially Char Dham shrines, ahead of Assembly polls. 

    Political analysts say this change is in sync with political changes in the country. The incumbent BJP, which owes its rise as a national party to ‘temple politics of Ayodhya’, has always focused on ‘Hindutva’, ‘nationalism’ and related issues. However, this time every party in the Himalayan state, including the main opposition Congress, has joined the bandwagon. 

    Political commentator Dinesh Mansera says: “What this election season witnessing is the effect of changes happening in the country, especially in the Hindi belt. All political parties have understood the trend and are acting accordingly. And this is going to continue for a while.” The Congress has already announced that if the party forms the next government, the Char Dham Devsthanam Board will be abolished and the status quo of pre-December 2019 will be resumed. 

    The grand old party has been giving out signals that it doesn’t want to be seen behind the BJP when it comes to courting religious politics. Former chief minister Harish Rawat, while visiting Kedarnath shrine last month, was seen with a trident to show his devotion to Lord Shiva. The party also organised ‘Jalabhishek’ rituals in parallel with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the shrine. All these indicate a paradigm shift in the state’s politics, feel analysts. 

    Even the Aam Aadmi Party which is trying to make its way in the hill state has been focusing largely on the same issue.  Delhi CM and party supremo Arvind Kejriwal, in one of his visits to the state, announced that if his party comes to power in Uttarakhand, the state will be made ‘Spiritual Capital’ of the world for Hindus.  “Earlier it was only the BJP which focused largely on Hindutva, nationalism and related issues but now other parties have understood that they can’t survive on old narratives including one that of Nehruvian secularism,” says Yogesh Kumar, another analyst. 

    With Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the Kedarnath shrine where he unveiled the statue of Adi Guru Shankaracharya, the BJP is already ahead of other parties. Reconstruction work worth`400 crore is already going on in Kedarnath and a  masterplan for Badrinath worth Rs 250 crore has already been approved.  

  • Pushkar Singh Dhami to be BJP’s CM candidate in Uttarakhand

    By Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: BJP election committee in charge for Uttarakhand Prahlad Joshi announced that the party will contest state assembly elections under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. 

    Party insiders told that Joshi had also instructed the state party leaders to not indulge in rivalry and issuing public statements against each other. 

    Earlier, state cabinet minister Harak Singh Rawat and ousted former CM Trivendra Singh Rawat have been giving statements against each other for the last few days.

    “We will be contesting state assembly elections under the leadership of CM Pushkar Singh Dhami. The people of Uttarakhand will support us because they know our work,” said Joshi. 

    Last week, Harak Singh Rawat, a state cabinet minister said that he saved ousted Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat (TSR) from being sent to prison by the then CM Harish Rawat in the year 2014 in ‘Dhaincha Seed Scam’. This soon turned into a huge political storm with many big names joining in.

    Responding to this Trivendra Singh Rawat had likened Harak Singh Rawat to a donkey.

    These statements threw open the rift inside the party in public. This also set opposition on attack mode.

    A senior party leader said, “Joshi has asked the state leadership and other leaders to end the infighting and focus on elections. Strict instructions have been issued to not repeat such instance again.”

  • BJP will form ‘double-engine’ government in Uttarakhand in 2022 Assembly polls: Dharmendra Pradhan

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Ahead of the 2022 Uttarakhand Assembly polls, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday expressed confidence that the BJP will form a ‘double-engine’ government in the state in the upcoming elections under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Addressing a press conference where Uttarakhand Congress MLA from Purola Rajkumar joined the BJP at the party headquarters here today, Pradhan said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a special attachment with the ‘Dev Bhumi’. In the upcoming elections, we will form a double-engine government in Uttarakhand under the leadership of PM Modi.”

    ALSO READ| Uttarakhand: Congress MLA from Purola Rajkumar joins BJP

    He further said, “I have been associated with the party’s political activities in Uttarakhand for a very long time. From Dehradun to the villages situated in the hills, Rajkumar ji who joined the BJP from the Congress today is known for his sensitivity, belligerence and leadership qualities.”

    Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and state BJP president Madan Kaushik were also present at the press conference held today. Speaking on the occasion, Dhami said, “People are impressed with the work done by PM Modi, hence joining our party. These joinings will further strengthen our party.”

    Congress MLA Rajkumar after joining the BJP said, “I am impressed by the work done by PM Modi. He took the country to the global level. His work including road construction, the welfare of SC/ST in Uttarakhand, and the way he managed the COVID-19 pandemic in the country is admirable. BJP works for the people.”

    “BJP is working towards the upliftment of the lower caste and making them independent, while Congress has made these people dependent on subsidies since Independence. I’ve joined the party today after seeing BJP’s great work in Uttarakhand,” he added.

    Struggling to keep its flock together, Uttarakhand Congress received a jolt with one of its sitting MLA’s, Rajkumar from Purola Assembly constituency joined BJP today in New Delhi.

    Rajkumar was earlier a BJP MLA and had occupied the post of secretary in the party’s state unit.The significance of the joining can be gauged from fact that Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and state unit chief Madan Kaushik both were present to welcome the Congress legislator in the party’s fold.

    Polls for the 70 member Uttarakhand Assembly are likely to take place in early 2022.

  • BJP supremo JP Nadda arrives in Dehradun for 2-day visit to Uttarakhand

    By ANI

    NADDA: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President JP Nadda on Friday arrived at Dehradun’s Jollygrant Airport for his two-day visit to Uttarakhand.

    Nadda was received by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Ministers and State General Secretaries on his arrival.

    “Grand welcome of BJP National President Shri @JPNadda on his arrival at Dehradun, Uttarakhand,” BJP tweeted.

    Arrived at Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun – Thanks to all the Karyakartas of @BJP4UK for a grand welcome. https://t.co/pJIRyJ8cWi
    — Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) August 20, 2021
    The BJP chief will be seeking blessings of sadhus and seers in Haridwar today, August 20, 2021.

    Yesterday, Nadda offered prayers at Jageshwar Temple in the Almora district.

    Nadda is scheduled to meet senior party leaders and elected representatives to finalise the party’s strategy and preparations for the forthcoming Assembly polls.

    U’khand: National BJP President JP Nadda to take 8 meetings in Haridwar today. Will meet seers too! @NewIndianXpress @TheMornStandard pic.twitter.com/rpvb0GiUHL
    — Vineet Upadhyay (@VineetTNIE) August 20, 2021
    On August 21, Nadda is scheduled to hold a meeting with ex-servicemen from the state in Raiwala Dehradun to seek their suggestions and support for the Assembly elections.

    The party-state leadership has planned eleven meetings of Nadda. These would include the BJP chief meeting with block pramukhs, nagar panchayat pramukhs, mayors, office-bearers of the party, general secretaries, MLAs, MPs, Cabinet Ministers and the Chief Minister of the state Pushkar Singh Dhami and all former Uttarakhand CMs of the party.

    Polls for the 70 member Uttarakhand Assembly are likely to take place in early 2022. 

  • Uttarakhand polls: Kejriwal names retired Army man Ajay Kothiyal AAP’s CM candidate

    By PTI

    DEHRADUN: Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday announced that retired Army man Ajay Kothiyal will be the party’s chief ministerial candidate in the 2022 Uttarakhand Assembly polls.

    Kejriwal said the decision to pick Kothiyal as the party’s CM face was based on the feedback received from people who are fed up with politicians helming the state.

    #UttrakhandMaangeKothiyal pic.twitter.com/WHDhLOnclC
    — AAP (@AamAadmiParty) August 17, 2021
    “People here want a break from politicians who have only looted the state. hey now want an Armyman as CM who will not spend his tenure filling his coffers but serve them,” the Delhi chief minister said.

    If voted to power, the Aam Aadmi Party, under the leadership of Kothiyal, will make Uttarakhand the global spiritual capital for Hindus and generate employment opportunities for the state’s youth, Kejriwal said.

  • Ajay Bhatt: Uttarakhand leader who led BJP to massive win in Assembly polls

    By PTI
    DEHRADUN: Nainital MP Ajay Bhatt simultaneously held two important offices as the Uttarakhand BJP chief and the Leader of Opposition at the time of the previous Assembly polls, and piloted his party to a massive win of 57 of 70 seats.

    The Nainital MP, who was sworn in as a Union Minister on Wednesday, has served the BJP successfully in several key positions in Uttarakhand over the years.

    The former Ranikhet MLA helped the BJP overcome the formidable challenge of wresting power from the Congress in the 2017 polls.

    The 60-year-old Brahmin leader from Kumaon had a stroke of bad luck too as he himself could not retain his own seat.

    However, Bhatt more than made up for the loss when he became an MP for the first time in the 2019 General Election, defeating seasoned Congress leader and former chief minister Harish Rawat in Nainital by 3,39,096 votes.

    It was the biggest margin with which any MP had won from the state that year and highly creditable given the fact that it was Bhatt’s Lok Sabha poll debut made against a Congress heavyweight like Rawat.

    Though aggressive as a Leader of Opposition, Bhatt’s attacks in the Assembly were always couched in dignified language.

    He always came to the House fully prepared, armed with facts and figures and never faltered during debates.

    Bhatt’s name was among the probables for the chief minister’s post in Uttarakhand whenever talks of a change of guard arose in the state.

    First, when Trivendra Singh Rawat was replaced by Tirath Singh Rawat and then more recently when Tirath was replaced by Pushkar Singh Dhami as the new chief minister.

    Born on May 1, 1961 at Ranikhet to Kamlapati Bhatt and Tulsi Devi, Ajay Bhatt lost his father at an early age and had a childhood full of struggle.

    After getting a law degree from Almora College, he had a successful career as a lawyer.

    He joined the ABVP as a student and has been in active politics since 1980.

    Inspired by senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, Bhatt was actively associated with the Uttarakhand’s struggle for statehood and the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.

    He won from Ranikhet for the first time in undivided Uttar Pradesh in 1996.

    He also became a minister in the Interim government led by Nityanand Swamy in Uttarakhand when it was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in 2000.

    He represented Ranikhet in the Uttarakhand Assembly for two terms from 2002-2007 and then again from 2012-2017.

  • No alliance with AIMIM for 2022 Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand assembly polls: Mayawati

    By Express News Service
    LUCKNOW: Completely ruling out the possibility of an alliance with Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati tweeted on Sunday that her party would go solo in the 2022 assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

    Amid reports about the possibility of BSP aligning with the AIMIM in UP, just like it did in last year’s assembly polls in Bihar, the ex-UP chief minister tweeted about the decision to go solo in the UP and Uttarakhand Assembly polls slated early next year.

    In the 2020 assembly polls in Bihar, the BSP had contested in alliance with AIMIM and ex-union minister Upendra Kushwaha’s RLSP. While the AIMIM won a significant 5 seats (in Muslim dominated pockets Seemanchal region), the BSP’s lone seat came from Chainpur in Kaimur district. However, BSP’s lone MLA Mohd Jama Khan ditched the party after the results and joined the ruling JD(U) later and is now a minister in the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U)-BJP government.

    In her tweets on Sunday, Mayawati made it clear that her party has only announced an alliance in Punjab with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). In Punjab, the SAD will contest 97 seats, while BSP will field candidates on 20 seats. Importantly, Punjab, UP and Uttarakhand are among the five states where assembly polls will be held next year.

    Mayawati’s tweets came amid the district panchayat chairperson polls in UP, where inability of BSP to field its candidate in some districts, including Mau and Ghaziabad (despite having won more district panchayat members seats than BJP and SP) indirectly helped the BJP candidates win unopposed.

    This has fuelled rumours about possibility of BSP and BJP coming close together after the 2022 assembly polls in UP, in the event of a hung assembly.  

    As per political observers in UP, though the BSP supported candidates had not fared well in the recent panchayat polls in the state (where the panchayat polls since a decade and half have seen direct contest between SP and BSP backed candidates), the party still remains a considerable force in the state as its perhaps the only party having a committed base vote of scheduled caste voters.

    “It’s not the first time that Mayawati has announced going solo in the 2022 polls in UP, as on January 15 also she had made a similar announcement. By making it clear that she will fight the 2022 polls alone, the BSP supremo is attempting to ensure that the party’s base vote remains intact and doesn’t help some other political party in case of an alliance,” Varanasi based political journalist Ajay Rai maintained.

    In the 2017 UP Assembly polls, the BSP which had contested alone, finished a distant third behind the BJP and SP-Cong alliance, with just 19 seats and 22.23% vote share, which was 61 seats less and 3.68% lesser vote share than the party’s 2012 assembly polls tally.

    In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BSP had dumped its decade and a half enmity with the Samajwadi Party and contested the general elections in alliance with the Akhilesh Yadav-led party in the state. The party which had drawn a blank in the 2014 general elections in UP, emerged the biggest gainer with 10 seats, despite losing 0.34% vote, while its alliance partner SP held on to the five seats tally of 2014.

    After the 2019 LS polls, the honeymoon between the SP and BSP ended and recently the bitter rivalry between the two parties has reached its peak, particularly in the wake of reports about rebel BSP MLAs being in contact with SP leadership to contest the next assembly polls on SP tickets.

    The SP has made it clear that it won’t align with any mainstream political party in UP and is instead focusing on forging ties with smaller parties to dent the non-Yadav OBC and non-Jatav scheduled caste vote which was crucial in BJP sweeping the 2017 polls with historic 312 seats.

  • BSP chief Mayawati to go alone in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand Assembly polls in 2022

    Express News Service
    LUCKNOW: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief and former Uttar Pradesh CM Mayawati has ruled out the possibility of entering into alliance with any political player in the 2022 Assembly elections for Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand here on Friday.

    “The state assembly polls are due in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand shortly. Here, BSP wants to make it clear that unlike Bihar assembly polls and Lok Sabha polls, we will not be forming any alliance withanyone for 2022. BSP will contest in both UP and Uttarakhand on its own and will form the government,” stated Mayawati.

    Mayawati also added that her party would ensure free COVID-19 vaccine for all if voted to power. The BSP chief was speaking on the occasion of her 65th birthday on Friday. While attaining the stature of veteran politician, Mayawati’s immediate challenge is to revive her party maintaining its relevance in the political landscape of Uttar Pradesh.

    Reiterating her party’s commitment to the deprived sections of the society, Mayawati said: “Our party is dedicated to the betterment of poor and the neglected. That is why BSP had formed  government in Uttar Pradesh for four times.” 

    “But castiest, capitalist and narrow-minded opposition parties could not digest it so they got united against BSP and hatched conspiracies to stop our party from coming to power in the state. Now these opposition parties are busy dividing votes of the weaker sections of the society,” she added.

    Exhorting her party cadre to fight against all odds to regain the lost ground in the state, the BSP chief said: “Our party workers have to overcome all the obstacles and work for the weaker sections of the society with a positive bent of mind.  They have to strive hard and work for the people in order to return to the power like they did in the year 2002.”

    She asked her her party workers to celebrate her birthday as Jankalyankari Diwas. The BSP chief also demanded the central government agree to the demands of the farmers protesting against the three contentious laws.

    The BSP chief also welcomed the vaccination drive starting January 16. “If the central and state government doesn’t give free vaccination, then the BSP will ensure free vaccination when it comes to power,” she said.