At a time when the prestige of all political parties is at stake, the BJP candidates are leading the campaigning race in the Garhwal and Kumaon divisions of Uttarakhand. Political sources revealed that three out of five BJP stalwarts are likely to file their nomination papers very soon. Additionally, one of the candidates is likely to file his nomination paper on the very first day of filing the nomination papers in front of returning officer.
All five BJP candidates who are contesting across the State would surely have mileage in terms of door-to-door campaigning and road shows in their respective constituencies. Since the candidates have been fielded by BJP party high command nearly fortnight ago, they already started hitting roads in order to woo voters in their respective constituencies whereas the Congress is yet to finalise the names of the candidates in all five constituencies.
Political leaders in the know of the development revealed that internal rift in the party and veterans refusing to contest elections could be termed among the top most reasons for delay in fielding the Congress candidates in all five constituencies.
It is noteworthy that BJP has fielded its sitting MP Mala Rajya lakshmi Shah in Tehri parliamentary constituency whereas former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Maj Gen (Retd) BC Khanduri is contesting from Pauri parliamentary seat. BJP has fielded former CM and Doiwala MlA Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank from Haridwar whereas another ex-CM Bhagat Singh Koshyari is in the fray from Nainital and the party has fielded MlA Ajay Tamta from Almora lok Sabha seat.
Sources said that Koshiyari and Shah are going to file their nomination papers on April, 12 and 13 respectively whereas Tamta will file his papers on 17 April. With an aim to woo voters and to register their presence in their constituencies, the party high command has instructed
veterans to ensure their presence when the candidates along with their supporters and party activists will go to file their nomination papers in their respective constituencies.
Political analysts felt that delay in finalising the names of Congress candidates will surely dent the party in upcoming general election, which is slated to take place in the month of May in the state.
After claiming that BJP will comfortably win all five seats in the state and the party will form the next Union Government, BJP State chief Tirath Singh Rawat said that the Congress has failed to introduce concrete steps for the upliftment of the weaker section of the society across the country and he also completely ruled out any kind of rift in the party.
Interestingly, BJP contenders are leaving no chance to corner the UPA-II and Congress-led state government for its callous approach for not pushing the country and state further on the path of development. If we have to believe the sources, the all five candidates are sensitizing electors on rampant corruption, rise in the prices of essential commodities and deteriorating condition of the disaster hit victims across the State.