Friday, 19 January 2024 | Gajendra Singh Negi | DEHRADUN
Pushkar Power
Buoyed by the steady support of PM Modi and near absence of dissidence within the saffron party ranks in Uttarakhand, the chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is becoming increasingly assertive in his decisions and actions. This assertion signifying complete dominance is clearly visible in the recent roadshows he has undertaken in different parts of the state. He has taken out roadshows in Haldwani, Tehri, Bageshwar, Uttarkashi, Rudrapur and Pithoragarh so far. Surging crowds at these roadshows seem to have boosted the young CM’s morale further. Dhami’s camp followers point out that their leader has taken many historic and firm decisions such stringent anti -copying law, anti- encroachment drives with focus trained on razing down illegal majars, granting 30 per cent reservation to local women in government jobs, decision on land laws and Uniform Civil Code (UCC). They contend that through these measures Dhami has endeared himself to the mass of people, resulting in huge crowds thronging his roadshows. He is now almost invincible in the State’s saffron politics, Dhami acolytes aver.
Money matters
Even as the Congress has seemingly taken a lead over its formidable rival BJP by starting the process of selection of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the Himalayan State, the reluctance of the top leaders to enter the electoral fray has created a piquant situation for the party leadership. The unprecedented enthusiasm being observed among the people about the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and the fact that the BJP leadership has succeeded in projecting itself as the champion of long-cherished Ram temple cause seems to have unnerved the Congress leaders. One leader- said to be in the race for the party’s ticket from one of three seats in Garhwal division- privately admitted that apart from the Ram wave, fund crunch is de-motivating the Congress leaders from throwing their hats in the electoral rings. He candidly admitted that a string of electoral reversals in the last 10 years has not only sunk their morale but has also affected them financially. One can understand that the Congress coffers are fast depleting, forcing the grand old party to resort to crowd funding to keep its electoral prospects afloat. However, in such a situation, the candidates will have to finance their campaign themselves.
Supreme shock
The recent rejection of the review petition of the Uttarakhand government in the Supreme Court (SC) in the infamous horticulture scam has created an uncomfortable situation for the Dhami government. The review petition was filed in the SC after the Uttarakhand High Court ordered a CBI probe after hearing a PIL which alleged large- scale irregularities in the horticulture department. Interestingly, taking cognizance of the irregularity complaints involving the horticulture department, CM Dhami had suspended the high- profile director H S Baweja and a SIT was also ordered into the case. However, the ignominy the State government suffered in the apex court over the review petition has raised a question mark about competence of its legal advisors. As expected, with election round the corner, the opposition Congress latched on to the god sent opportunity to tear into the Dhami government. Its leaders charged the government with protecting the corrupt and demanded the minister Ganesh Joshi to quit.
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