The infighting among the BJP leaders could cost the party the coveted position of District Panchayat president in Dehradun. The district has 43 members of district Panchayat. These directly elected members would elect the President of the District panchayat.
Though the nominations for this post would be on July 30 there is unanimity among the Congress party on the name of Chaman Singh, who is brother of senior Congress leader and Cabinet minister Pritam Singh. The BJP is divided house on the issue and names of Madhu Chauhan who till recently held the position of President District Panchayat and Subhash Sharma are circulating as the probable candidates.
In the direct elections of the member district Panchayat which were recently held the BJP buoyed by its spectacular success in the lok Sabha elections officially declared the list of its candidates.
The party however got a shock in these elections as only 12 candidates’ could get elected out of house of 43. The Congress on the other hand played its cards cautiously in the aftermath of a crushing defeat in the lok Sabha elections and did not officially declare its candidates. Surprised by the results the Congress in the district is now claiming that it would comfortably get its candidate elected for President as majority of the elected District panchayat members are having Congress background.
The internal rivalry between former Chief Minister and MP from Haridwar lok Sabha constituency Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ and seasoned leader Munna Singh Chauhan is casting its shadow on BJP’s prospects in these elections.
Madhu Chauhan is wife of Munna Singh Chauhan and a section of BJP in the district is demanding that she should be made the official party candidate for the post of President District Panchayat. According to sources Nishank this time is backing the candidature of Subhash Sharma for the position. Surprisingly Sharma fought the election of member district Panchayat as an independent candidate and has tossed the contentious issue of Parwa Doon and Pachwa Doon in these elections.
It is worth mentioning here that Madhu Chauhan was able to win the election of Panchayat President last time even though her party BJP opposed her candidature. Munna Singh showed his tight grip over the politics of district when despite opposition of BJP; he was able to get his wife elected President District panchayat as an independent candidate. Speaking to The Pioneer, Madhu Chauhan said that she is sure that she will win the election this time too if BJP declares her candidature.
She however categorically said that she will fight the elections only if the party gives her go ahead and would respect party’s decision if party decides to field some one else for the position.