Ghansali MlA Bhimlal Arya, who had been cozying up to the Congress since the time Vijay Bahuguna was saddled in power, has been suspended from the BJP on Tuesday. The MlA kept on testing the nerves of the saffron party for his marked inclination to shower laurels on the Chief Minister Harish Rawat and his Government.
Defending the decision, the State saffron leadership said that he has been indulging in activities hostile to the interests of the party. He had not even cared to attend the State BJP meeting presided over by BJP national president Amit Shah in Dehradun on May 3. However, the decision, being touted as ‘a good riddance’ would inadvertently strengthen further the hands of the CM as the number of MlAs supporting him would now go up to 43 in the 70- member State Assembly if the BJP terminates Arya.
Since the inception of the Congress regime in Uttarakhand in 2012, the ruling party had been trying to humour Bhimlal Arya for the expected switch. He seemed to have been almost enmeshed in the trap. However, the BJP activists gheroaed his house and foiled the Congress bid to poach him for the time being. Since then he remained in the sulk, seemingly waiting for his opportunity to switch sides.
Arya has earned the sobriquet of a Dharna Vidhyaak for his propensity to resort to sit-in in the well of the House at the drop of a hat. Currently, he is staging a sit-in in the Secretariat, demanding the dues of his constituency being cleared. He alleged that the BJP senior leaders were not championing the cause of his constituency as much as he expected them to do. He said he would continue fighting alone for the cause till the Government steps in.
Sources said that using his political adroitness and maneuverability up to the hilts, Arya, has managed to have some projects sanctioned for his constituency. To achieve his ends, he threw a dare to the party leadership by going the whole hog in eulogising the CM.
The party leadership’s frustration peaked when Arya did not attend the state level party meeting chaired by BJP national president Amit Shah on May 3. Earlier, the party top brass in Delhi kept on dithering over showing the recalcitrant legislator the door. However, things hardened on May 3 and the party’s central leadership green- lighted the state leaders to go ahead. The state BJP leadership said the MlA’s primary membership of the party was being terminated.
Observers are, however, piqued with the sudden course of things. “The step would doubtless elate the Congress camp. Once expelled, he no longer comes under the whip of the party. As per the norms after termination, now onwards, MlA Arya would be considered as an independent MlA. One wonders whether it is in tune with the title BJP has recently won as the friendly Opposition,” the observer said.
Talking to The Pioneer MlA Arya said that he did not receive any show cause notice so far. Although he categorically said that he could not attend party meeting on May 3 because his wife was unwell. he further said that BJP seems overconfident so they will have to face music in the upcoming assembly election-2017.