Targeting Haridwar, deemed to be a redoubt of the Chief Minister Harish Rawat who was elected from there in 2009 general election to step into the Union Cabinet, State BJP is bringing a host of Central leaders and high-profile Union Ministers ahead of the election slated early next year. To start with, the Union Minister Rajnath Singh and the Union Health Minister JP Nadda are coming to Haridwar in a space of few days. While the former would address a public rally in the district on December 10 Nadda will participate in a road show from Dehradun to Haridwar on December 4-5.
Political analysts say that the way BJP top brass is going the whole hog reveals that they would stop at nothing to gain electoral ground over the district. “Mention worthy, CM has been crisscrossing the district to woo the electorate of the district for some days. Aside from the BJP, BSP is a force to reckon with, given the number of seats it won in the last elections as well as the rural body elections held in 2015. BJP knows that it can hardly be in a position to secure absolute majority unless it wins a large chunk of the 11 seats the district has. It is thus natural that the saffron camp is going all out to stamp its presence here, using up to the hilt the ongoing Parivartan Yatra, meant to spawn a wave against the Harish Rawat Government,” said a state watcher.
However, Congress looks unfazed with its principal rival bent on bringing a host of Union Ministers to woo the electorate. “It is a good omen for Congress as it makes it clear that they are aware of the clout the Chief Minister enjoys here, thanks to his deep-rooted connect with the people and the development that the state government has ushered in. We are sure that BJP’s high-voltage campaigning would prove sound and fury signifying nothing for the people who have decided to bring Congress back to power again,” said a senior state Congress leader.
The CM’s reaction is interesting too. “I am welcoming the Union ministers coming to campaign against me and my party. However, I hope that they are coming with some concrete proposals to better things in the state,” he said.
He further said that he was immensely happy with BJP being determined to fight him on the electoral ground.
“Being a politician, it provides me immense pleasure, seeing that the rival is focusing on me. It proves that I am very much in the fight in contradiction to the idea BJP tries to foist on the people that I am on my way out. However, the reality is that the much –hyped yarta pitching for change is failing to evoke the expected amount of response from the people,” CM said.