The former Congress MlAs who had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party with much show of enthusiasm are now feeling the pressure as they attempt to secure a ticket from the party to contest in the coming Vidhan Sabha elections.
Dissident ex-Congress leaders, who had deserted Harish Rawat-led Uttarakhand government when the House was having a debate on appropriation Bill-2016-17 on March 18 to later join the BJP because they were disqualified by the Speaker under anti-defection law, are under stress because they are facing a stiff fight from BJP leaders who were active on the constituencies being eyed by the ex-Congress MlAs. Sources said that BJP leaders have categorically asked the newly-joined 11 BJP leaders including ex-MP Satpal Maharaj that they will have to contest election from the seats, which are being represented by the Congress MlAs. Political analyst state that this election would bring phenomenal change in the state’s polity because ticket distribution would make 50 per cent election work easy and remaining 50 percent would depend on party campaign and local issue.
It will be recalled that nine then MlAs led by the then state cabinet minister Harak Singh Rawat including ex-CM Vijay Bahuguna, Subodh Uniyal, Shailendra Mohan Singhal, Amrita Rawat, Pranav Singh ‘Champion’, Umesh Sharma ‘Kau’, Pradeep Batra and Shailarani Rawat had deserted the Treasury bench led by CM Harish Rawat. As they left treasury bench then parliamentary affairs minister Indira Hridayesh filed a petition to speaker and demanded that they should be disqualified under the anti defection law. later speaker disqualified them and thereafter during floor test by an order of supreme court, two MlAs -- one each from BJP and Congress – Bhimlal Arya and Rekha Arya respectively voted against their party. By doing this they were also disqualified from the Vidhan Sabha by the Speaker. Since then these 10 recently-arrived BJP leaders are being considered as strong contenders for the party ticket to the contest the Vidhan Sabha elections from the constituencies which were being represented by them.
It should be mentioned here that since assembly election-2012, the BJP leaders who have been busy in grooming the constituency in their favour are running disappointed with the arrival of the Congress turncoats into the BJP. They have openly expressed their views that they are representing the BJP and working for the last several years in the interests of the party.
If the BJP would not consider their candidature then they may go to any extent at a time when Congress leaders are reportedly very much active to ‘poach’ them. Due to this reason even chief minister Harish Rawat has categorically said that they have taken decision on 62 out of 70 assembly seats and remaining seats’ candidates would also be finalised by the party in the near future.
It might be taken to mean that they are waiting to poach these leaders in these constutencies for which the candidates have not been finalised yet, opine analysts. For instance in Narendranagar, which was being represented by ex MlA Subodh Uniyal, BJP leader Omgopal is very much active and in case he is denied a ticket to contest from here by the BJP, the Congress may poach him and give the election a Thakur versus Brahmin angle.
In Roorkee, which is being represented by Pradeep Batra, BJP leader and ex MlA Suresh Jain is very much active so if he is denied a ticket then he too may be offered a Congress ticket.
Similarly in Khanpur, which is being rpesented by Pranav Singh Champion, Congress is trying to field a Gurjar community leader. With this they want to divide the votes of the Gurjar community.
As is known, senior Congress leader late Rajesh Pilot has no relation with Khanpur assembly cosntituecy but CM Rawat unveiled his statue here. Similarly in Jaspur constituency, which was being represented by Shailendra Mohan Singhal, Congress may field some strong Muslim candidate to counter him.
Due to this reason Congress has not finalised ticket for this constituency of the dissident ex Congress leader.
Five out of ten MlAs i.e. Harak Singh Rawat, Subodh Uniyal, Shailendra Mohan Singhal, Amrita Rawat and Pranav Singh Champion have been representing constituencies in the Vidhan Sabha since inception of Uttarkhand state. Harak Singh Rawat was more vocal in UP Assembly and he even wins assembly election from new seat.
Following the party high command instruction that dissident will have to constest election from Congress represented seat only, Harak Singh has expressed his desire to contest election from Kotdwar, which is being represented by state health minister Surendra Singh Negi.
It will be recalled that Kotdwar assembly seat result had played decisive role in the state assembly election-2012 because then BJP chief ministerial candidate Maj Gen (Retd) Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri was defeated by Negi and Congress achieved victorty in 32 out of 70 assebmly seats. Due to this reason Negi is concentrating on Yamkeshwar assembly seat.
The BJP is trying hard to avoid major loss to the party after declaration of ticket. Although how they would manage is matter of future but this time period is seeing additional pressure being experienced by these newly joined BJP leaders