local leaders of the Congress and BJP have started efforts to ensure the election of their respective leaders to the post of the Pauri district Panchayat president.
The District Panchayat member elected from Jaiharikhal Block, Deepti Rawat, who is also the wife of cabinet minister Harak Singh Rawat and Himani Negi, the wife of former District Panchayat president Keshar Singh Negi are seen as the main contenders for this post.
After its convincing win in the recently concluded parliamentary polls, the BJP is now trying to get its hold on the seat of the Pauri District Panchayat even though the Congress performed better in the recently concluded three tier Panchayat elections in Uttarakhand.
In Pauri, both the Congress and BJP claim to have achieved majority after declaration of results of the election to the posts of Gram Pradhan, Gram Panchayat member, Block Development Committee and District Panchayat members. The Congress party had not fielded any candidate on a party ticket in the Panchayat polls but the BJP had fielded 38 candidates for election to the posts of 42 District Panchayat members. However, only 13 of these candidates managed to win the election.
The date for the election of Block Pramukh and District Panchayat president for 12 district of Uttarakhand excluding Haridwar has not been fixed yet but the political efforts of hopefuls for the posts of Block Pramukh and District Panchayat president have started in full swing.
The probable candidates are trying to convince the elected BDC members and District Panchayat members in Pauri district to vote in their favour. The two names making the rounds as probable candidates for the post of District Panchayat president are Deepti Rawat from the Congress and Himani Negi who is aligned with the BJP. While Deepti is the wife of cabinet minister Harak Singh Rawat, Himani who was elected member of the District Panchayat from Dove-Srikot block, is the wife of former Pauri district Panchayat president KS Negi.
The post of the Pauri District Panchayat president is reserved for women in the three tier Panchayat election this year. According to sources, Deepti Rawat is likely to be fielded by the Congress in the election to this post while Himani Negi is likely to be fielded by the BJP.
However, three other elected District Panchayat members are also trying to be fielded by the BJP in the election to the post of District Panchayat president. Observers point out that Himani Negi is more likely to be fielded by the BJP in the election to this post due to her husband's reputation and the developmental work facilitated by him during his tenure as the Pauri district Panchayat president.