Dehradun : The BJP has not been able to overcome from the setback that its poster boy, former chief minister Maj Gen B C Khanduri, on whom it was banking to retain power in Uttarakhand lost from his own Kotdwara assembly segment.
Perhaps that was why the party neither made any efforts to form the government in the state, nor give the reins of leadership to an alternative leader to make efforts to from the government.
Though the party improved its position immensely from the number of seats surveys had initially given it before the vidhan sabha elections in the state, but the fact that it was just one short of being the largest single party having won 31 seats to 32 of the Congress, has not motivated it to make the necessary moves to destabilize the Congress government.
This despite the fact that the present Congress government in Uttarakhand is tottering under its own bickerings and inner differences, with a large number of disgruntled MLAs (on not being made ministers) and unsatisfied ministers (on not having been given the desired portfolios).
Besides this its allies the BSP, UKD-P and independents are still demanding their pound of flesh for supporting the Congress.
A reason for this is the fact that having still not recovered from the setback of seeing its poster boy lose the elections, the BJP has not put faith on any state leader to lead the legislature party.
In fact it has not even announced its leader of the opposition in the vidhan sabha, which is the reason that not a single state leader took the initiative in cobbling together the necessary majority to form the state government.
And now over a month has past that the Congress formed its government in the state, but despite the instability the BJP is neither making any efforts to dislodge it or even create the necessary road blocks for it to function smoothly.
This is again because of the fact that not a single state leader of the party wants to take the initiative in the exercise as he is not sure whether he will eventually get the party high command’s nod.
The BJP central leadership is still trying to look for the reason’s for Khanduri’s loss from the Kotdwara assembly segment and make a scapegoat to save its own face and that of the retired major general for losing the elections.
It is perhaps that’s why it has sent notices to 115 partymen, including former MLA of Kotdwara, S S Rawat and some other leaders of the assembly segment, for their alleged role in the defeat pf Khanduri.
It is high time that the party woke up from its defeat at the hustings, however small, and started playing its role as the main opposition party in Uttarakhand and ensuring that the Congress government took decisions in the interest of the state and its people.
Over a month has passed and it still appears that there is no government in Uttarakhand except for the large number of transfers that were undertaken.
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.
Who said Kotdwara was Khanduri’s own seat? are you journalists kidding the readers? Kotdwara has never been Khanduri’s seat. He himself tried to impose himself on Kotdwara..the bitter result of which he has and is tasting. Khanduri’s seat was Dhumakot the most part of which came in Lansdwone after delimitation. This fact I am mentioning to enrich the knowledge of the the author of this report. So, technically, Khanduri should have contested from Lansdowne and not from Kotdwara. The most essential point which entire media is missing is following: Khanduri lost from Kotdwara not because of internal feud as indicated by the media propaganda but because he thought he is over and above of people’s sentiments. The sitting MLA of Kotdwara has been a popular face in that constituency and people love him and admire him. So when at the 11th hour Khanduri kicks him out and announces himself as BJP candidate from Kotdwara..poeple would do the their job. After all its the “Victory of Dharma” rather than the defeat of Khanduri. As a voter from Kotdwara assembly seat, I have followed the entire drama very carefully and I wish to extend the point that I myself feel pity on Khanduri on loosing Kotdwara but at the same time I feel happy that ultimatley people have shown that no Khanduri is over and above the common people. I can not explain the pain I sufferred when I myself cast my vote in favor of Congress…but I had no choice…and at the same time I was determinded to tell Mr. Khanduri that he can not show the dictatorship in democracy which he has been used to shown in his military rank. Jai Hind…Jai Uttarakhand