Politicians generally become more active in the constituency during election time but the Congress candidate from Tehri parliamentary constituency, Saket Bahuguna states that he has been active in the constituency even after losing the Tehri bypoll 2012 to the BJP candidate Mala Rajya laxmi Shah of the erstwhile royal family of Tehri, who is also contesting this time from this constituency on the BJP ticket.
The grandson of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister late HN Bahuguna and son of former Uttarakhand CM Vijay Bahuguna, the Congress candidate from Tehri is fighting bad-publicity earned by the Congress-led UPA Government, a nationwide wave conceived by many to be in favour of BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and the alleged anomalies in the relief and rehabilitation works in areas affected by the June 2013 disaster in Uttarakhand. However, talking to Paritosh Kimothi, Saket Bahuguna, who is also a lawyer, said that he is seeking votes from the public on the basis of past work record and his activeness in the constituency even after losing the Tehri bypoll. According to him, “In Tehri seat, this election is a contest between the royalty and development.”
What are the challenges being faced in the Tehri parliamentary constituencyIJ
This constituency comprises Uttarkashi, Tehri and Dehradun districts. In Uttarkashi the people are satisfied with the first phase of rehabilitation in disaster-affected areas but facilitating the desired level of infrastructure still remains a cause for concern.
The work in disaster-affected areas has already been started and speeded up. However, two of the Char Dham shrines are in this district and the BJP allegations about the situation, which might scare away pilgrims is causing public resentment as the employment of majority of the people here is linked to the Yatra and tourism.
In Tehri district there are some problems in rehabilitation, the lake Development Board formed for facilitating development and employment generation is a concern and employment for youth is also a common issue. In Dehradun district, the issues are related more to roads and other aspects of urban civic infrastructure.
What difference do you see between the Tehri bypoll 2012 and the parliamentary election 2014IJ
There is considerable difference. During bypoll 2012, the quota of subsidised lPG cylinders was restricted and the price of diesel was also hiked which went against me. I had won from the the hill segments where people depend more on firewood than lPG. The lPG issue has been redressed now whereas the price of diesel depends on the international market. This should have a positive impact on the election now.
Don’t you think that the Modi wave might boost the position of your main rival — the BJP candidateIJ
There is no Modi wave so the BJP candidate won’t benefit from it. Besides, I am asking the people to compare work done in 40 years during which the erstwhile Tehri royal family represented the constituency in Parliament with the work done by the Congress in the past two years. In the past two years, Government orders for works amounting to about Rs 1,500 crore in this constituency have been issued and this excludes the major projects like building a stadium, a new secretariat building and other works. What has the BJP candidate done for the constituency since her election besides making allegationsIJ Despite her having been the sole elected BJP MP from the State, the issue of disaster was not addressed in her party manifesto. Did she complain even once to the CM about issues in her constituencyIJ On the other hand, since losing the 2012 bypoll, I have been active in the segment and among other works had intervened in strikes by State employees, teachers, Aanganwadi workers and others attempting to resolve them. I myself spent time in disaster-affected areas and the State Government then ensured that a policy was made to buy the potatoes and apples cultivated in Uttarkashi.
Though these may have been later thrown in the river, the farmers did get money for their produce. We also facilitated compensation for mules killed in the disaster and on seeing farmland lost in the affected areas, we also modified the policy to provide compensation for the farmland area lost to the disaster. We did make the effort to facilitate the required rehabilitation.
Do you think that national issues and trends might overshadow local issues in this parliamentary electionIJ
Some areas may have anti-incumbency but the people in the constituency are literate. The media reaches every household and with increased Internet use the people have also become more aware. They know that Modi will not visit Uttarakhand to check on them.
On the other hand, they know that the Congress Government in Uttarakhand will govern for at least three more years and having a Congress representative will help facilitate the desired development due to better coordination between the MP and CM because these works are to be undertaken at the State level not by the Centre.
Having lost the 2012 bypoll to the BJP candidate, what motivates you while contesting the parliamentary election 2014IJ
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Any election is fought on how enthusiastic the party cadre is and the Congress cadre is confident and enthusiastic. I am focusing on every individual in the constituency and asking voters to compare 40 years of representation by the erstwhile royal family of Tehri and our work in the last two years. The people want roads, proper health facilities, schools and development in other sectors, so for me this election contest is between the royalty and development.