Sting struck
Ever since Umesh Sharma, the influential owner of a news channel was sensationally arrested by Uttarakhand police on complaint of one his trusted lieutenants, anxiety can be seen writ large on the faces of many politicians and bureaucrats in Dehradun. With rapidly unfolding events and rumours that some sting CDs involving who’s who of Uttarakhand are waiting in the wings to be released in the public domain, flying thick and fast, the discomfiture of these fellows is understandable. It is an open secret that Umesh Sharma with his right connections, ostentation and audacity to take on opponents had impressed politicians of all hues along with top babus and many of them were closely associated with him. Ayush Gaur, the pawn turned nemesis of Umesh Sharma has claimed that his boss has spared none and had stung everyone who was in his proximity is causing sleepless nights to many in Dehradun.
Capital crisis
Paucity of funds is clearly taking its toll on the campaign of the Mayoral candidate belonging to the principal opposition party in Dehradun. Out of power, the mandarins of the party had hoped that fielding an affluent leader belonging to the community of traders would overcome the handicap of dearth of funds but as the electioneering is reaching a feverish pitch, the astute leader who had seen many elections in his chequered career, is showing reluctance to loosen strings of his purse. The grapevine has it that this leader was not interested to contest the elections but when the ticket was literally foisted on him he relented but not before placing riders that Mayoral candidature should not affect his claim on the assembly constituency he represented thrice and some party leaders would manage funds for him by using their personal influence, but now at the time of crunch most of those who promised financial help have vanished into thin air.
Minister snubbed
Grandiose plans of a hyper active Minister in TSR Government by organising a mega event associated with education in the holy city of Haridwar and raise his stature in the Government and party in the process have hit a roadblock. Throwing a spanner into the Minister’s wishes, the State Election Commission, citing model code of conduct enforced in view of ensuing elections of Urban Local Bodies has clearly said that the pictures of CM and the Minister should not be used in the promotional material of the event. A perturbed Minister is now left with no option but to go ahead with the event which he conceptualised at a time when the municipal elections were entwined in legal battles and there were no chances of them being held in mid November.