Keeping all on tenterhooks for days, the Congress leadership finally announced that the former Dehradun Mayor, Manorma Dobriyal Sharma would contest the upcoming solitary Rajya Sabha seat from Uttarakhand as the Congress candidate. This was announced by State PCC president Kishore Upadhyaya in the presence of the Chief Minister Harish Rawat, two Cabinet Ministers Pritam Singh and Harak Singh Rawat and MlA Sarbat Karim Ansari at Bijapur guest house on Friday evening.
Welcoming the decision, the CM said it testifies to the party's empathy with the women. "Women constitute half of the population in Uttarakhand," he said.
Political observers are of the view that the announcement would exacerbate bickering within the State Congress. "With this announcement, the Congress high command has shown former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, who had been frantically jockeying for the Rajya Sabha ticket for the past three months, his place. Sharma being a greenhorn in terms of political experiences stands no comparison with the former Chief Minister who is the son of legendary HN Bahuguna," an observer said.
The Pioneer had reported that ex-CM Bahuguna was most unlikely to be given party ticket because it would necessitate an Assembly bypoll. If the Congress loses the bypoll, the Government which is enjoying support from 36 out of 71 MlAs, including one nominated member, might land in trouble. The party's strength in the Assembly would come down to 35 while that of the BJP would go up to 29 if the saffron party wins it. In case that happens, the BJP would be close to magic figure of 36 if it can bring the PDF which is now with the Congress on board.
"The announcement is bound to send Bahuguna in a sulking mood, but the high command thought it can risk it on the knowledge that he is inconsequential in terms of political clout. But it is a fact that the selection might result in cross-voting on the day the election would be held. There is a number of MlAs who are loyal to Bahuguna. Given the party's vulnerable position in the State Assembly, the cross-voting even by a few might spite the party candidate's prospects if the BJP decides to pitch in. The PDF support cannot be taken for granted with its warmth with the ruling party waning in the changing political scene of the State," the observer said.
However, CM Harish Rawat has expressed hope that Sharma would have a smooth sailing, given the State's tradition that the Opposition does not put up candidates. However, the fact is that the BJP put up a candidate in the 2012 biennial election when it had sufficient number to breathe down on the ruling party's neck. Sources said that former CM Bahuguna is having support from 15-17 MlAs, including three Cabinet Ministers. Harak Singh Rawat, Indira Hridayesh and Yashpal Arya are supposed to be with Bahuguna.
Among the MlAs who are with him include Subodh Uniyal, Dr Shilendra Mohan Singhal and Vijaypal Singh Sajwan.
The anti-CM Rawat faction, which has been biding time since the party had won the three by-elections, is likely to turn hyperactive. Now, the solution might be a Cabinet reshuffle to induct Bahuguna loyalists in the State Assembly like Subodh Uniyal and Dr Shailendra Mohan Singhal into Rawat Cabinet. "This might help the party put up a semblance of unity and stave off cross-voting. But embers would keep on shouldering beneath the surface of things," an observer said.