The upcoming assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat is showing its effect on governance in Uttarakhand also as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has inducted majority of its cabinet ministers for campaigning in these election bound States.
Responding to the duty of party, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and many of his cabinet colleagues have hit campaign trail of these elections. On Monday CM Rawat addressed a number of public meetings in HP. He is slated to spent considerable time in HP till elections are held there.
Apart from the CM, BJP has bestowed responsibility of some assembly seats in HP on agriculture minister Subodh Uniyal. He is extensively campaigning in Jubbal ,Rodhu, Rampur and Kotkhai assembly constituencies. Similarly Finance Minister Prakash Pant and State Minister Dhan Singh Rawat are also drawn for campaigning in HP where BJP is hoping to form Government this time.
In Gujarat assembly elections the central leadership of BJP has reposed its faith on Cabinet ministers Madan Kaushik and Satpal Maharaj. Kaushik is camping in Gujarat from last many days and now Satpal Maharaj has also been asked to campaign there. Maharaj has considerable following in Gujarat and BJP is hoping that his personal charisma could fetch votes for party in this crucial elections.
In absence of ministers the frequency of ‘Janata Milan’ programme in State office of BJP has also been reduced. The state spokesman of BJP Devendra Bhasin said that the programme would now be held for three days in a week. On the directive of CM Rawat the Janata Milan programme was started from August 28 wherein ministers listen to public grievances on working days. The upcoming election in Gujarat and HP and duties of many cabinet ministers there has forced the party to restructure this programme.
Assembly elections in the Himachal Pradesh would be held on November 9 while the election commission has not announced date of Gujarat elections yet. Campaigning in both poll bound states is in full swing these days with top leaders of both BJP and Congress hitting the poll trail.
HP is neighbouring state of Uttarakhand and central leadership of BJP don’t want to take any chances in Gujarat as a dismal performance here would intensify pressure both within the party and outside on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National President Amit Shah. Both Modi and Shah are from Gujarat and projection of this state as model state was one of the main reason for success of BJP in the general elections of 2014.