Uttarakhand Kranti Dal central president Kashi Singh Airy has said that the party is working to consolidate regional organisations and persons to build a viable alternative to the BJP and Congress in the State. He said this while addressing the media after announcing the expansion of the party’s central executive in Dehradun on Monday.
Meanwhile, leader of the other UKD faction and previous party chief, Trivendra Singh Panwar has alleged that with Airy’s election itself being invalid, the central executive announced by him is also invalid. Addressing the media, Airy said that in order to build the State in accordance with the sentiments and dreams of Statehood activists, it has become necessary for all regional entities to unite.
The regional organisations and persons should unite to form a viable alternative to the Congress and BJP who have done little more than implement “anti-Uttarakhand” policies, he said.Targeting Panwar, he said that the autocratic actions of the previous party chief were the cause of division in the party and denting of its credibility. In order to respect the concerns and requests of party leaders, he had to accept the responsibility of leading the party, added Airy.
He also announced expansion of the central executive which now includes four central vice presidents including MCS Parihar, KM Bartwal, BC Joshi and Gangadhar Semwal, six central general secretaries, eight secretaries and eight organisation secretaries among others.
Reacting to this development, Panwar said that Airy was himself expelled from the party which makes his election to the post of party chief and subsequent expansion of the central executive invalid. Referring to the tussle between the two factions for possession of the party head office in Dehradun, he said that Airy was trying to instigate party workers to fight each other.
“Airy has been greedy for the perks of power. The Election Commission has already said in the past that the faction headed by me is the real UKD. We will approach the court to seek possession of the party office,” said Panwar. Political observers point out that while both Airy and Panwar claim to be working to uniting regional forces, the ongoing leadership feud in the party will severely affect the chances of the party to achieve the target.