The Congress, which won all the three seats - Karnprayag, Tharali and Badrinath - in Chamoli district in the last election seems to have a chance to repeat its sweep in this election too in view of several BJP men resolving to stand against the party’s official candidates as independents. It is learnt that at least three such rebels are likely to file nominations in each of the three seats up for grabs in the district. In case this happens they are likely to spite the chances of the party’s official candidates by eating substantially into their votes, observers say.
Sources say that as for Tharali Assembly constituency, there are at least three BJP leaders eying the seat- Magan lal, Govind lal and Balbeer Ghuniyal. Notably, Magan lal finished runner-up in the last election as he was defeated by a narrow margin of 400 votes. However, this time, prospects of Balbeer Ghuniyal contesting the seat as the official BJP candidate seem brighter. If this happens the other two would stand as independents to cut into his votes, resulting in the repeat of a Congress victory.
On the other hand, Prof Jeetram, the sitting MlA, is all set to get the nomination this time too. He sounded confident when he said that he had left no stone unturned to fulfill the developmental pledges he made to the people while seeking votes in the last election. “I worked hard in the fields of roads, peyjal, education, child development, health and many others in the constituency. To ensure better development, I had nine gram panchayats of Tharali block included in Narayanbagar block. Moreover, a registry office has come up in Tharali,” he added.
As for Badrinath constituency, things are gloomy for BJP with three leaders- ex-MlA Mahandra Bhatt, Ram Kishan Singh Rawat and Ritudaman Singh Rawat trying hard to secure ticket. Congress has no worry on this front as Rajendra Bhandari, the sitting MlA as well as a cabinet minister, is all set to be re-nominated.
Known previously as a close aide to Satpal Maharaj, Bhandari built up good equations with Harish Rawat after Maharaj left Congress to join BJP. Bhandari was elected as an independent during the Assembly election-2007. later, he joined the Congress at the behest of his mentor Satpal Maharaj before the Assembly election-2012. He won the election-2012 on a Congress ticket.
His followers cited many achievements like engineering college at Kothiyalsain, nursing college at Pathiyaldhar, pharmacy college and polytechnic college at Pokhari. “Besides, he took initiatives to include Joshimath area in OBC category and to upgrade around dozen high schools,” said a follower of the minister. However, on the ground, things are not as are being projected. Road connectivity is poor in the Kothiyalsain area.
As far as Karnprayag seat is concerned at least three BJP local leaders are laying claim to it- Surendra Singh Negi, Anil Nautiyal and Tika Ram Maikhuri. Congress is unworried on this count as the sitting MlA Anusuya Prasad Maikhuri who is also the deputy speaker is set to be re-nominated. Harish Pujari, the candidate from BJP, who lost the election 2012 by a little over 200 votes, is not among the ticket seekers.
Maikhuri is known as a strong champion for Gairsain being made the permanent capital of Uttarakhand. Notably, Maikhuri's career began from village level politics as a gram pradhan of the village Maikhura. Then he started ascending the ladder- Pramukh of Karnprayag block and MlA from Badrinath. He was also appointed as vice chairman of Char Dham Vikas Parishad and chairman of Badrinath Kedarnath Mandir Samiti from 2002 to 2007.