The Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) may be aiming to make its presence felt in the local body elections, but considering the continued dissent within its ranks, observers are wondering whether the party will be able to sustain itself for long.
In the recent past, the party's sole MlA and Cabinet Minister Pritam Singh Panwar was suspended from the party for saying that UKD chief Trivendra Singh Panwar was holding on to the post unconstitutionaly. More recently, TS Panwar expelled party leader and Statehood activist Pankaj Vyas and issued a notice to general secretary Harish Pathak for allegedly anti-party statements made by the two leaders. Following this, dissatisfied party members united against the party chief and asked him to hold a party convention within a set time frame. TS Panwar's term as party chief expired in July last year so some leaders are demanding fresh election of the working committee.
However, instead of trying to work out a solution, the party chief has been threatening action against those who raise questions.
He even questioned UKD patron Kashi Singh Airy's decision to convene a meeting which was later postponed. Party leaders and political observers point out that such actions have made TS Panwar more unpopular within the party barring a group of his followers who have rising in prominence in the party under him.
Before the announcement of the local body election date, the UKD chief had claimed that the party activists would ensure a good result for the party candidates in these elections.
However, observers point out that considering the past record of the party in elections and the rising dissent within the party, the real issue is not whether the candidates filed by UKD will perform well. The real issue is how the party leadership will overcome the rising dissent and factionalism within its ranks to sustain itself and perform as desired by the party leaders.