Hectic activity on in BJP, Congress for CM post in Uttarakhand

Despite making tall claims of achieving majority, political parties aren’t sure of their fate

Even before the results are to be announced on coming Thursday, hectic activity has begun for the chief minister’s post in Uttarakhand.

Harish Rawat and Pritam Singh, two main contenders in the Congress, have already met Rahul Gandhi. And the BJP is trying to kill dissent, which erupted after six or seven of its MLAs complained about election sabotage, before March 10, in a bid to keep its flock ready for the battle for the top post of the State. It seems to be evolving plan B in case of a hung Assembly.

Uttarakhand has given mandate alternately to the Congress and the BJP.

Former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank recently met his party’s top leadership in New Delhi. Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami is also camping in Delhi for the last two days. Sources said the BJP was looking at all the possible situations that may emerge after the poll results. It had fought the battle with slogan “Abki Baar, Saath par”, meaning it will perform better than the 2017 elections, in which it had scored 57 seats out of the total 70.

Following the polling on February 14, a few BJP candidates claimed internal sabotage in their areas concerned. Mr. Dhami and the party’s State chief Madan Kaushik were in Delhi to resolve the issue.

For the March 10 counting day, the BJP’s Uttarakhand unit will hold a meeting to discuss its preparation on March 7. The meeting is likely to be attended by State election in charge and Union Minister Prahlad Joshi. All the State’s MPs, district presidents, candidates and in charge will be the part of this meeting.

The Congress, which is fighting a do-or-die battle in the State, is hoping to get a majority to form a government. Although Mr. Harish Rawat remained the poster boy of the party in his capacity as the head of campaign committee, the party could not declare him as its chief minister face in this election.