Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat and ex-CM Vijay Bahuguna have locked horns over the issue of ticket distribution for Haridwar and Tehri lok Sabha constituency. Ex-CM Bahuguna, who failed to secure a ticket for his son Saket Bahuguna from Tehri lok Sabha seat, has blown the bugle of revolt.
Bahuguna alleged that if his son (Saket) was denied ticket, how CM Rawat’s family member can be given ticket from Haridwar lok Sabha seat. Due to this reason, the Congress high command, which had somehow managed to convince Vijay Bahuguna to contest election from Tehri, has delayed announcement of candidates for five lok Sabha seats of Uttarakhand.
Since declaration of polling date for general election-2014, the Garhwal division, having three lok Sabha seats, have been witnessing leadership crisis because three MPs, who had won during general election-2009, expressed inability to contest election, in which two heavyweights congress leaders including ex-CM Bahuguna and former Garhwal MP Satpal Maharaj, who deserted Congress and joined BJP, overtly claimed that he would not contest election. Haridwar MP Harish Rawat has become chief minister of state so he can’t contest general election-2014.
All three were trying hard to secure ticket for his ward or family. For instance Ex CM Bahuguna was seeking ticket for his son Saket Bahuguna, who had lost Tehri lok Sabha by-poll by more than 20000 votes; Maharaj was seeking ticket for his son Shradhey Maharaj and CM Rawat was seeking for his family members including wife Renuka Rawat or his daughter Anupma Rawat or his son Anand Rawat. Meanwhile Satpal Maharaj deserted congress so congress is looking for a candidate having known in the area. In this process, they zeroed two ex-servicemen including lt Gen TPS Rawat, who had deserted Congress and joined BJP in 2007, and lt Gen Gambhir Singh Negi.
Sources said that ex-CM Bahuguna has agreed in principal to contest election from Tehri lok Sabha seat, but he blown bugle against the CM Rawat, who was seeking ticket for his family member. He reminded that how can party has dual policy. If they say that no family member will be given ticket then how they agree for CM Rawat’s family.
He said that if CM Rawat giving assurance that he would win Haridwar seat then I also gave assurance to the party leaders that he would make sure Saket’s victory.
By saying this Ex-CM Bahuguna, who had been covertly attacking CM Rawat by saying that earlier Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal was not considering his official protocol and was keep blaming state government for slow progress in restoration and rehabilitation work in disaster affected area. Ex CM Bahuguna blasted at the last moment when party high command was supposed to announce candidates’ name for all five lok Sabha seats of the state.
Sources said that CM Rawat is facing stiff challenge from ex-CM Bahuguna in Garhwal Division and ex-CM ND Tiwari, who along with his son Rohit Shekhar is busy in road show or public meeting, in Kumaon division. Sources further said that when BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s wave is blowing in full speed then party is busy in internal rift.
Congress, who had won all five seats of Uttarakhand during general election-2009, has been striving hard to select five candidates since March 5, when election schedule was announced. To motivate the party workers CM Rawat have begun public meeting and unofficially seeking vote for particular candidate.