DEHRADUN: The 2022 elections are likely to be a triangular battle in Uttarakhand. Congress and BJP are directly pitted on most of the 70 seats (AAP) is expected to throw a challenge in urban pockets like Dehradun. on brand Modi to retain control, it is count- ing on its youthful CM Pushkar Singh Dhami to blunt anti-incumbency. At the same time, it is highlighting central projects like Kedarnath redevelopment, Char Dham allweather road, and the Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail project as examples of ‘double-engine’ development resulting from the presence of the same party at the Centre and in the state.
Speaking to TOI, Dhami said, “The strength of the double engine can be gauged from the fact that the Centre has approved more than Rs 1 lakh crore for development works in the last five years… We are confident of going past 60 seats this time. ”
Congress, meanwhile, is banking on Harish Rawat, who is in charge of ticket distribution and setting the poll agenda. There’s no dearth of poll issues for Congress to raise, from the rapid replacement of CMs to the formation and repeal of the Char Dham Devasthanam Board, but it is plagued by factionalism. It is in a do-or-die situation this time after being reduced to just 11 seats in 2017, and drawing a blank in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls in Uttarakhand.
“BJP needs to tell people why they have given three CMs to Uttarakhand in the election year. Unemployment is at an all-time high and so is migration from the hills. Welfare schemes started in the Congress days have been stalled. One CM takes a decision while another one repeals it and labels it as development,” former CM Harish Rawat said.
AAP is also eyeing Uttarakhand and every visit by party chief Arvind Kejriwal is marked by a major announcement – from 300 units free electricity for every household to Rs 5,000 unemployment allowance for youth. Besides urban voters, AAP is hoping to tap the substantial defence population in the state and has named former serviceman Col Ajay Kothiyal as its CM face.
Kothiyal will contest from swings between BJP and Congress. “BJP and Congress have been in power for 10 years each, and apart from corruption they have given nothing to the state… Our promises will be delivered in a time-bound manner and the only focus of the AAP government will be development,” he said. can also win a few assembly constituencies, say poll watchers. Although it was wiped out in 2017, it had fared well in the previous three polls. With majority vote share in Haridwar and some pockets of Udham Singh Nagar, BSP can play a crucial role in a hung assembly.
Speaking to TOI, Dhami said, “The strength of the double engine can be gauged from the fact that the Centre has approved more than Rs 1 lakh crore for development works in the last five years… We are confident of going past 60 seats this time. ”
Congress, meanwhile, is banking on Harish Rawat, who is in charge of ticket distribution and setting the poll agenda. There’s no dearth of poll issues for Congress to raise, from the rapid replacement of CMs to the formation and repeal of the Char Dham Devasthanam Board, but it is plagued by factionalism. It is in a do-or-die situation this time after being reduced to just 11 seats in 2017, and drawing a blank in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls in Uttarakhand.
“BJP needs to tell people why they have given three CMs to Uttarakhand in the election year. Unemployment is at an all-time high and so is migration from the hills. Welfare schemes started in the Congress days have been stalled. One CM takes a decision while another one repeals it and labels it as development,” former CM Harish Rawat said.
AAP is also eyeing Uttarakhand and every visit by party chief Arvind Kejriwal is marked by a major announcement – from 300 units free electricity for every household to Rs 5,000 unemployment allowance for youth. Besides urban voters, AAP is hoping to tap the substantial defence population in the state and has named former serviceman Col Ajay Kothiyal as its CM face.
Kothiyal will contest from swings between BJP and Congress. “BJP and Congress have been in power for 10 years each, and apart from corruption they have given nothing to the state… Our promises will be delivered in a time-bound manner and the only focus of the AAP government will be development,” he said. can also win a few assembly constituencies, say poll watchers. Although it was wiped out in 2017, it had fared well in the previous three polls. With majority vote share in Haridwar and some pockets of Udham Singh Nagar, BSP can play a crucial role in a hung assembly.
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