Dehradun: The opinion polls shown by two television news channels have not only created confusion in the minds of the electorate Uttarakhand but have also put a question mark on the credibility of the media during the vidhan sabha elections. The buzz word is that what one is seeing and reading is mostly paid news without much objectivity.
The Star News carried an opinion poll in which the BJP was shown to be winning 39 seats, up four from the 35 it has in the current vidhan sabha and the Congress 29, which is nine more than what the party won in the 2007 vidhan sabha elections in the state. The others, which include the BSP, UKD and independents were shown to win just two seats, down from the 15 they have in the 70 member House.
On the other hand Doordarshan also showed an opinion poll in which the Congress was shown to be winning 51 seats and the BJP 19 seats. This was an indication that the two major parties will win the 70 seats of the house amongst themselves and the other parties, including the BSP and also the independents wqill not win any seat. This is far from what is likely to happen.
Taking the BSP for example. Though political observers here feel that the party could increase its number from eight in the present House to nine or even 10, as the number of seats in its strongholds of Udhamsingh Nagar and Hardwar have gone up after the delimitation, but most believe that it will retain its present strength of eight, as the number of assembly seats in the plains of the state is 36, as compared to 34 in the hilly tracts.
Political observers are also of the view that the UKD will win at least one seat, the Raksha Morcha aboit two and the independents about four seats. They feel that the others, including the BSP, would win at least about 15 seats in the 70 member House. If this comes true that means there will be just 55 seats which the Congress and the BJP will divide amongst themselves and under no circumstances will the Congress get 51 or the BJP 39 of these.
It appears that the Congress, despite the large number of rebels that its official candidates are facing and the ‘Khanduri hai jaroori’, slogan coined by the BJP which is backing upon the so-called clean face and honest image of chief minister Maj Gen B C Khanduri, may eventually be the single largest party after the results are declared. But will the number be enough for getting a simple majority is the question that even the Congress leaders in the state have started asking.
A journalist with over 40 years of experience, Jagdish Bhatt was Editor, Hill Post (Uttarakhand).
Jagdish had worked with India’s leading English dailies, which include Times of India, Indian Express, Pioneer and several other reputed publications. A highly acclaimed journalist, he was a recipient of many awards
Jagdish Bhatt, aged 72, breathed his last on 28th August 2021 at his Dehradun residence.
Its crystal clear now that the Congress is going to form the next government. Thanks to the able leadership of Sonia n Rahul and a vary honest and farsighted Prabhari Adhyaksh in Sh Birinder Singh coupled with Sh Anand Kumar who gave tickets to the deserving party caders keeping the right balance between winnability and loyalty towards the party and its policies.
It could have been a little hung poll had the duo induldged in any favouratism but luckily for the Congress atleast Uttarakhand did not become a scapegoat of what can be said to be FAVOURATISM which is common in all leading parties.
As a middle class Youth with deep interest in politics, I hereby declare that the congress wont require support of any party (could be few independents) to form the next government) & mark my words. News channel require survey but a true picture can never be known by estimates or exit polls. Irrespective of the fact that I am a Congressman at heart as I believe in the secular and nationalist policies of the party but no denying the fact that the swing of 5-6 seats which is going to make the diffence in this state would be an outcome of the 2 stalwart leaders namely Mr Birender Singh and Sh Anand Sharma. I wish the party chooses such cobination of leaders as it is this combination which makes for the right candidate and in turn helps the party capture power in a state. The Exact number of seats would be 34 for the Congress, making it an easy way for the party to form the next government with 5 independents or less known local parties) supporting it.. SEE YOU GUYS AFTER THE REASULTS. NOW GOING TO PUNJAB FORECAST …….BYE