Rebels may queer the pitch for Congress, BJP

SMA Kazmi

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 29

The choice of candidates by the ruling Congress and the Opposition BJP has led to rebellion within the parties in the run-up to the Assembly poll scheduled to be held on February 15.  The wrong choice of candidates and rebellion will affect both parties.

The rebellion within the BJP ranks was expected after the entry of 10 Congress rebel legislators in the party fold. The party ticket to Uttarakhand Revenue Minister Yashpal Arya  and his  son Sanjeev Arya, within hours of joining the BJP from Bazpur and Nainital seats, and ticket to 10 other Congress rebel legislators  has led to resentment  among party rank and file.  A large number of committed party workers allege that “wholesale import” of Congress leaders has blurred the distinction between the main rival parties and has led to “Congressisation” of the BJP.

Apart from giving ticket to turncoats from the Congress,  the BJP has also given ticket to the kith and kin of senior party leaders which has fuelled greater heartburn  among party leaders. Narayan Singh Rana, father-in-law of the son of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, has been given ticket from Dhanaulti, a segment where he has little influence. 

The sitting BJP legislator Mahaveer Rangad has been denied ticket who is also in the fray as an Independent. Similarly, Ritu Bhushan Khanduri, daughter of Pauri Garhwal MP Maj Gen BC Khanduri (retd), has been adjusted at the Yamleshwar segment at the expanse of sitting party legislator and three-ime winner Vijaya Barthwal. Vijaya had filed her nomination as an independent but was persuaded by party to withdraw from the contest. Vinod Kandari, nephew of former BJP minister Matbar Singh Kandari, has been given ticket from Devprayag.

  The ticket to Kedar Singh Rawat, a former Congress legislator, from Yamunotri has annoyed party ticket aspirant Surat Ram Nautiyal who has entered the fray as an independent. The party ticket to sitting Congress legislators has led to rebellion in a dozen seats.

 The situation is no different in the ruling Congress. Although, the party has wisely distributed tickets picking up right candidates, particularly some strong BJP rebels, but at some places, personal preferences have taken over political logic. The Congress has chosen strong candidates in Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts, including fielding Chief Minister Harish Rawat from Haridwar rural and Kiccha segments in both Garhwal and Kumaon regions. The choice of Suresh Chand Jain, a BJP rebel, from Roorkee,  Chaudhary Yashveer from Khanpur, Ambrish Kumar from Ranipur, Qazi Nizamuddin from Manglore and Haji Tasleem from Laksar showed the political maturity of the ruling party which has been facing anti-incumbency.

However, the choice on a few seats by Chief Minister Harish Rawat has intrigued everyone. Instead of approaching Asha Nautiyal, a BJP rebel from Kedarnath , the Congress has chosen Manoj Rawat, a Dehradun based journalist, considered to be close to the Chief Minister. Similarly, the party ticket to Luxmi Rana, a close associate of Harak Singh Rawat, rebel Congress legislator  and bête noire of Chief Minister Harish Rawat, has surprised all. 

Harak Singh Rawat was rooting for her for a BJP nomination from Rudraprayag but she was named as rival Congress candidate. She was expelled by the Congress when Harak Singh had ditched the Congress in March 2016. Was the party high command aware of the background of such candidates?  

The Congress is also facing rebellion on many seats. Senior leaderships of both parties are involved in damage control exercise in persuading the rebels to withdraw from contest before the last date of withdrawal on December 30.