The State Government banning the entry of media in the Assembly during the Rajya Sabha election slated for Saturday has made it clear that CM Harish Rawat, though indulging in triumphalism over the success of the floor test, is under stress over the crucial election.
It is known that aside from a number of Congress leaders, including the State party chief, PDF is a disgruntled lot over the party having run roughshod over their aspiration for the solitary seat in the Upper House of Parliament. The Rajya Sabha election returning officer Jagdish Chandra issued an order on Friday, banning entry of media persons in the Vidhan Sabha premises during the election.
It seems that things are not all well in the Congress camp as senior leader Mukul Wasnik and State Congress in-charge Ambika Soni have arrived in Dehradun to assess the mood of the Congress and PDF law-makers vis-à-vis the election.
The RS plot has deepened with a Dalit BJP leader Geeta Thakur having switched to the Congress from the BJP, charging the latter with back-stabbing her at the final moment. Political analysts say the BJP has bungled with the issue when the Congress was on the back foot on the Dalit and Garhwal-Kumaon imbalance issues. “BJP has let the Dalit issue slip out of its hands with the angry exit of Thakur. However, despite this, the RS drama might be headed for a close finish with the Garhwal/Kumaon divide remaining a burning issue. Besides, the PDF can hardly be caught with chaff with resentment simmering in the group. Eyes would particularly be trained on the PDF which has the strength to conjure up an upset result,” said an analyst.