By defeating BJP candidate Trivendra Singh Rawat in Doiwala, which was being considered as a stronghold of the party because the seat was being won by the BJP since 2002, the Congress has forced the party to do introspection.
Interestingly, the BJP had won a margin of 26,000 votes in this Assembly segment during the parliamentary election-2014 and now they lost the Assembly election there by around 6,500 votes. It means that the party has lost support of 32,500 voters in less than two and a half months.
Giving his first reaction to the media, BJP national secretary Trivendra Singh Rawat has categorically said that he lost the seat due to factionalism within the party. By saying this Rawat has created a furore in the state BJP.
Sources said that state BJP workers are divided into three factions and they are being led by three Ex-CMs i.e. Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, Maj Gen (retd) Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri and Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’.
Trivendra Singh Rawat is being considered as loyalist of Nainital MP Koshiyari and strong opponent of Dr Nishank. Trivendra’s supporters burned the effigy of Dr Nishank and pelted stones at the state BJP head office while state BJP president Tirath Singh Rawat, who belongs to Gen Khanduri faction, was sitting in his office.
Political sources said that Dr Nishank and Tirath combination played pivotal role in Rawat’s defeat because Dr Nishank did not spare quality time during campaign and Gen Khanduri could not attend the meeting on the last day of campaign due to family reason.
Sources further said that there was a perception that if Trivendra won then he may become contender of for Chief Minister’s post in case the Congress-led state government goes.The party high command has taken Doiwala defeat very seriously and may send their envoy here to assess the situation. It has made a severe dent in Modi ‘effect’ and also disheartened party workers who were bubbling with confidence. According to sources, state BJP president Tirath Singh Rawat may lose his post in the coming days.
It would be pertinent to mention here that Doiwala seat was represented by Trivendra Singh Rawat twice i.e. between 2002-07 and 2007-12 and later the seat was won by Ex-CM Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank because his Assembly constituency Thalisain was abolished in the delimitation-2008 during Assembly election-2012. During the parliamentary election-2014, Dr Nishank won Haridwar lok Sabha seat and defeated Congress candidate and CM Harish Rawat’s wife Renuka Rawat by 1.77 lakh votes, winning a margin of 26,000 in Doiwala segment alone. Now the BJP lost the Assembly seat by 6512 votes. It means the BJP vote base has depleted by around 32,500 votes in less than two and a half months.
The BJP’s two sitting MlAs, Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Ajay Tamta, had vacated their seats i.e. Doiwala and Someshwar, respectively, after becoming members of the lok Sabha.
Meanwhile, Congress MlA Harish Dhami had relinquished his membership from Dharchula Assembly constituency to facilitate CM Rawat’s entry into the Vidhan Sabha as a member of the House. The BJP was under pressure to win the seats but their position shrank to 28 from 30 while the Congress achieved a comfortable position i.e. 35 from 32.
Now the PDF, which was needed for the Congress-led state government especially while change of guard was happening in February 1, 2014, has become a liability to the state government.
Sources said that CM Rawat may reshuffle his Cabinet and may induct a few of ex-CM Vijay Bahuguna’s loyalists to ensure stability to his Government.