WHO WILL WIN ELECTIONS IN UTTARAKHAND?

Mukesh Devrari

It is not a mystery. It is clear. All journalists and intellectuals, mostly upper caste, feel that BJP is destined to win. Congress is not even in a position to pose meaningful challenge to BJP in upcoming elections. Why self-declared experts believe that the election result is a foregone conclusion?

Ten members of congress who rebelled against Harish Rawat and joined BJP are very powerful. In any case five or six of them will definitely win the elections. The popularity of Harak Singh Rawat, Vijay Bahuguna, Umesh Sharma, Kunwar Champion must not be underestimated. If BJP succeeded in disciplining internal unrest then these rebels will have easy road ahead.

Apart from them BJP has five members of Lok Sabha from Uttarakhand. There are many other leaders who have considerable hold over the voters. Tenure of Harish Rawat is marked by the internal unrest. He could not do much for the betterment of state, but mostly channelized his energies to sideline those who supported former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna. His behavior did not show statesmanship and magnanimity when he had the opportunity.

His style of governance clearly sent a message that now the Uttarakhand has Harish Rawat government, not the congress government. Even after suffocating his party legislatures to the extent that they left it. He pampered PDF (Progressive Democratic Front) and used it as a tool to control his own party.

When congress party workers started campaigning for local leader for Rajya Sabha seat, Harish Rawat encouraged it. But when the time came to send Kishore Upadhyay to Rajya Sabha, he used PDF leaders to oppose it. Harish Rawat ensured that his loyalist gets a Rajya Sabha ticket and wins. He dented the party prospects through his master stroke to sideline state president of the congress party.

Harish Rawat did not show any restraint in taking steps which have directly benefited his family and coterie. Ranjeet Rawat and Rajiv Jain has become most hated figures in his tenure. There are other issues which may have led to the downfall of his prestige. He provided land to Jindal group to build a school in Nanisar. A huge company like Jindal could have bought the land at market prices. According to some unconfirmed reports, opposition alleged that his sons might have involved in the project.

Harish Rawat transferred the wholesale business of alcohol to GMVN and KMVN. Both government agencies supplied only those brands to liquor retailers who paid bribe. It led to a situation where all known liquor brands were absent from the shelves of liquor shops in entire state. An unknown brand ‘Denis’ became synonymous of chief minister’s name.

During his tenure, some dubious appointments were made. He ignored existing vice chancellors and allowed them to recruit people with right wing orientation as faculty members who may vitiate the atmosphere within university in the long run. He was busy in big games. He totally ignored smaller issues which have potential to destabilize congress in the long run.

He has taken many smaller steps but did not launch any spectacular project. Some of his bureaucrats misled him by launching unviable projects like Metro in Dehradun. These projects were beyond common sense. This city needs roads and flyovers which we have failed to provide.

It is one side of the story. There are many within press and academia who believe Harish Rawat is going to win elections. They provide many reasons.

In Kumaon region, he earned lost of political capital after the defection of ten congress MLAs. Most of them were from the Garhwal region and plains. Some analysts claim that Congress might sweep the Kumaon region. Others say it is a misconception. There is no such wave for Congress and Harish Rawat in Kumaon region.

Harish Rawat touched the heart and souls of Uttarakhand movement by constructing Legislative Assembly, secretariat housing for MLAs in the Gairsain. He is the one who has gone beyond mere promises and successfully held two consecutive sessions in Gairsain. His opponents say almost 70 per cent population of Uttarakhand lives in plains, so emotive issue of Gairsain might not contribute significantly in the electoral fate of Congress.

Harish Rawat promoted local culture and food. He also started many other policies which helped the villagers and urban poor. His opponents dismiss all public welfare schemes like free health care, subsidized food as a political drama. Many job opportunities were provided to youth. Thousands of contract employees in various departments were given permanent jobs.

It is difficult to say who will win elections. Harish Rawat in his two-year tenure does not have much to show to the public? He has no substantial achievements? Neither he has failures? His work as Chief Minister was pretty ordinary? His report card has mixed grades.

Election results can be unexpected. Harish Rawat may win against all odds.

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