Leadership change voices snubbed, BJP to contest 2027 Assembly election with Dhami- Bhatt combination
Gajendra Singh Negi | Dehradun
The reinstatement of Mahendra Bhatt on the powerful position of the State president of BJP has not only elevated his stature within the party in the State which boasts of having as many as six former chief ministers and many powerful leaders within its ranks but has made the position of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami virtually invincible in the State. It also shows that the BJP has made up its mind to contest the Assembly elections of 2027 on Dhami’s face and will field a potent Dhami- Bhatt combination to lead the party in these polls. A hint in this regard was given by the CM himself by his assertive speech during the provisional council meeting of the State BJP held on Tuesday in which he said that the rumours by vested elements regarding leadership change have been scotched effectively.
In the race for the coveted position of BJP State president, Bhatt had open backing of the CM which tilted the scales in his favour. The party sources point out that many senior leaders of the party were lobbying for the post of State party president but Bhatt with the support of Dhami was able to get the blessing of the party high command for the assignment. The CM has a very good relationship with Bhatt due to which he was not in favour of disturbing things in a State which has seen as many as 10 CMs in the last 24 years and is known for political uncertainties.
It is learnt that Dhami was able to persuade the central leadership about retaining Bhatt in the crucial position of State party president. Bhatt being a Brahmin from Garhwal region suits Dhami who is a Rajput from Kumaon region. Bhatt at the helm in the party and Dhami heading the State government balances regional and caste equations in the State where the politics revolves on the above mentioned fulcrums. Bhatt’s election also gives representation to Chamoli district which at present has no representation in the cabinet. After defeat of the party candidate Rajendra Singh Bhandari in the Badrinath Assembly by-election in July last year, the leadership of party has remained alert on a possible revival of Congress party in its former stronghold in the mountainous areas of Garhwal. The election of Bhatt on the top position has given a positive message to party supporters in mountainous Garhwal and to the electorally sensitive Brahmin community in the State.
The political observers point out that the reappointment of Bhatt shows that the central leadership of BJP has given a virtual free hand to young Dhami in Uttarakhand. His decisions on the Uniform Civil Code implementation, enactment of anti-riot act and action against love, land and spit Jihad has made him very popular and the party plans to use his image to woo Hindu voters in different parts of the country. The fact that Dhami has recently become the second longest serving CM of Uttarakhand – second only to Narayan Dutt Tiwari- shows that the BJP high command is standing firmly behind the young leader.
Senior journalist Pawan Lalchand opined that the reinstatement of Bhatt has snubbed the voices of leadership change in the State BJP and things are very favourable for Dhami.
Political commentator Jay Singh Rawat also was of the opinion that Dhami’s position has got strengthened after Bhatt’s reappointment. There is no threat to Dhami’s leadership in the immediate future, he added.
