Even while tackling factionalism and other political issues, the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) has been gradually intensifying its efforts against the Bharatiya Janata Party in recent months. Statements made by the BJP State chief and leader of opposition in the Vidhan Sabha, Ajay Bhatt and other political developments in the main opposition party have provided some relief to the Congress.
The latest such development has elicited criticism from the PCC which has questioned the position of the BJP in Uttarakhand while stating that MP and former chief minister Bhagat Singh Koshyari has not attended three consecutive meetings of the party’s core group in the state.
As the Congress and BJP focus on preparations for the coming Vidhan Sabha election slated to be held in 2017, both the national parties have also continued to face internal strife exacerbated due to nine Congress MlAs joining the BJP. In the Congress, the PCC chief Kishore Upadhyay and chief minister Harish Rawat have had differences of opinion on more than one occasion. The PCC chief had repeatedly sought cabinet berths for Congress MlAs in place of MlAs of the coalition partner Progressive Democratic Front (PDF) though the CM did not support this proposition. Recently, the PCC chief and CM were called by the party high command in the national capital where the two leaders were reportedly told to clear the differences and intensify efforts for securing a victory in the 2017 Vidhan Sabha elections.
Political observers point out that the Congress continues to face issues including factionalism and discontent among its leaders and cadre in Uttarakhand. However, the developments in the main opposition party BJP have provided some relief along with issues for the Congress to oppose. With opposition leaders providing ample ammunition for their rivals, the PCC is attempting to capitalise on the situation in the BJP to divert focus away from internal problems and other problematic issues being faced by the Congress.
On Sunday, PCC spokesman RP Raturi pointed out that Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar MP and former chief minister Bhagat Singh Koshyari did not attend the BJP core group meeting held on September 3 at Bhimtal in Nainital district. Raturi states, “This was the third consecutive meeting of the BJP core group which was not attended by Koshyari. Even the Garhwal MP and former chief minister Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri is stated to have left the said meeting midway. This clearly shows that the BJP is facing internal strife on the subject of its chief ministerial candidate for the coming Vidhan Sabha election.
Even the BJP state chief and leader of opposition in the Vidhan Sabha, Ajay Bhatt has acknowledged in his statement that the BJP does not have a face for leading the party in the assembly polls. The BJP State in charge Shyam Jaju—who had orchestrated the conspiracy for horse-trading of Congress MlAs on March 18—should desist from visiting Uttarakhand for orchestrating similar machinations which may further taint the image of Uttarakhand,” said Raturi.