Dehradun: It was BJP day in Uttarakhand on Saturday. The party won 57 seats leaving Congress in just 11 seats. The ruling party in shock blamed ‘money power’ for its worst defeat. The Modi wave so strong that even Congress poster boy Harish Rawat lost from the both seats which he contested. So the question remains what led to the debacle of the party in elections. BJP leaders and also a section in Congress believe his autocratic style of functioning miffed many senior leaders. Besides, nine Congress MLA’s in last March rebelled against him and crossed over to BJP. Barring one Shailendra Mohan, all other have won.”Who can stop if anyone wants to leave the party? Harish Rawat worked hard but money won” alleged Jot Singh Bisht, vice president, Uttarakhand Congress.Out of 70 assembly seats, 30 are in the Garhwal hills. Here Congress won just 3 seats and rest went to BJP. In Kumaon region out of 29 seats, Congress won just 4 and lost rest.Moreover, Rawat sting video in which he was seen purportedly offering money to lure his own party MLA’s during last year political turmoil have hit his image hard. Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his rallies in Uttarakhand in the last leg of campaigning last month held Rawat responsible for the corruption.”We thank people of state for showing trust in us (BJP), we will certainly fulfill the expectations” said Satpal Maharaj, senior BJP leader and a CM probable.Among the top names who lost elections in state include Ajay Bhatt (BJP President), Kishore Upadhyay (Congress President), Harish Rawat (Chief Minister), Cabinet Ministers – Harish Durgapal, Dinesh Dhane, MP Naithani, Nav Prabhat, SS Negi, Dinesh Agarwal, Rajendra Bhandari.The BJP meanwhile will meet on Sunday to chalk out strategy. Party sources say the leader of the legislator party will be selected after Holi that is on Monday.
December 19, 2024
