Nine Congress dissidents, who had deserted Chief Minister Harish Rawat while opposition was demanding division of vote on appropriation bill on March 18, have finally shared stage in the presence of BJP assistant general secretary Ramprakash, State BJP president Ajay Bhatt and Haridwar MP and ex CM Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank at State BJP office on Sunday. Although they have been accepted publicly, the question being asked is about how party leaders, who have been carrying party flag with an intention to get ticket in upcoming assembly election due in 2017, would react during distribution of assembly ticket.
Most of the dissident MlAs showed their strength as well and they echoed that they would make Uttarakhand Congress Mukt (free) State in upcoming assembly election. They categorically demanded that now governor should dissolve the Vidhan Sabha and call for fresh assembly election. Talking to the media ex CM Vijay Bahuguna, who has served the state as Congress Government’s Chief Minister from March 13, 2012 to January 31, 2014, has categorically said that he kept fighting for the people of Uttarakhand and will continue his tirade against corruption in future as well. He also averred that he has not joined BJP for personal interest.
They reiterated that Harish Rawat government had fallen on March 18 because then 35 MlAs including nine Congress and 26 BJP MlAs out of 67 were against the bill but assembly speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal misused his power, demeaning the Speaker's chair, they alleged. They demanded that Vidhan Sabha should be dissolve and fresh mandate should be sought.
MlA Subodh Uniyal, who is considered a close confidant of Bahuguna, said that if CM Rawat believes that he has earned sympathy with this then he should dissolve the Vidhan Sabha and seek fresh mandate. He reiterated that Rawat government is in minority since March 18 and how long they will continue remains uncertain considering the murmuring already started among Congress MlAs for the cabinet berth in his government. He said that he is loyal to his people of Narendranagar constituency and will continue to do so in future as well.
Harak Singh Rawat, who is considered as team leader of the dissident MlAs- ex CM Vijay Bahuguna, Subodh Uniyal, Dr Shailendra Mohan Singhal, Pranav Singh Champion, Amrita Rawat, Umesh Sharma Kau, Dr Shaila Rani Rawat and Pradeep Batra- is being considered as bosom friend of Ex CM Dr Nishank.
Earlier they were sailing in two different boat but now they have boarded in same boat so people are inquisitively watching how long they would sail. As both leaders are being considered as sailing their boat against tide.
For instance Dr Nishank changed his constituency during Assembly election-2012 from Thalisain to Doiwala and they won. Similarly Harak Singh Rawat defeated BJP seven time MlA Matbar Singh Kandari from Rudraprayag despite the fact that he changed his constituency from landsdowne to Rurdraprayag.
Ramprakash said that with the merger of these nine leaders state BJP has strengthened and appealed to the party workers to show your large heart. Sensing internal rift he said that new leaders might have faced some initial hitches but party workers are disciplined and they will get adjust with them shortly.
It is solely responsibility of party workers and leader to create conducive atmosphere for these new comers. Although they are newcomer with BJP but they have strong hold among public. As they deserted congress because they were fed up with the ongoing corruption in Harish Rawat led Uttarakhand Government. Talking about the Harak Singh Rawat, he said that he could have enjoyed his cabinet birth but he left as part of mission to serve the state. They have joined BJP without any terms and condition.
Responding to the chief minister Harish Rawat comment that despite knowing the fact that Harak Singh Rawat was corrupt he was tolerating, Harak said that if CM believes that he has committed scam they they should have put me behind the bar. As if now he is the chief minister of the state and entire machinery working under his guidance.