The Uttarakhand Jankranti Dal has appealed to all regional parties to unite to form a consolidated front for the Panchayat and local body elections. Blaming Uttarakhand Kranti Dal chief Trivendra Singh Panwar for turning regional parties into a joke through his irresponsible and autocratic actions, UJD patron and former Cabinet minister Diwakar Bhatt appealed his party’s central head BD Raturi to call an open meet within a fortnight for all regional parties of Uttarakhand.
Addressing media persons Bhatt said that there is need for a strong regional political front to make its presence felt by contesting the coming local body and Panchayat elections in Uttarakhand. “We appeal all regional parties and groups to unite in order to defeat the BJP and Congress. I would also request regional politicians to desist from making irresponsible statements in the media because this is ruining the image of regional political parties,” said Bhatt.
Replying to a question he said, “I had made the mistake of making TS Panwar the chief of UKD and his autocratic decisions are also affecting other regional parties. Even UKD members and the party’s sole MlA have repeatedly said that decisions like withdrawing support to the State government are Panwar’s decisions and not those made by UKD.
Irresponsible statements made by such leaders and their autocratic actions have caused the public to lose faith in regional political outfits, which in turn is bad for Uttarakhand and its people because the issues raised by regional parties are more important for the people than those raised by national parties.”
UJD central head BD Raturi said that in order to build a strong regional political front, he had been in constant communication with regional politicians and senior Statehood activists. “We all have made errors in the past so we all need to contemplate and prepare to unite for a consolidated front. The shortsightedness and immaturity of some politicians has cost regional politicians their credibility so the challenge we must now face is to win back the trust of the public,” he said.