PNS | DEHRADUN
The Bharatiya Janata Party president of Uttarakhand Mahendra Bhatt has predicted a clear win for the BJP in the Kedarnath by-election, citing internal conflicts within the Congress as a significant advantage for the BJP. He claimed that following the ticket distribution, disgruntled Congress workers have distanced themselves from campaigning and are allegedly determined to teach their high command a lesson.
Speaking to journalists in Kedarnath on Sunday, Bhatt said the Congress is not merely divided into two factions but at least half a dozen groups. Ticket aspirants, disappointed with the party’s unexpected ticket distribution process, have reportedly withdrawn from active participation in the campaign. He criticised the Congress for bypassing the state party president during the candidate selection process, alleging that local factions conducted their own survey and awarded the ticket to their preferred candidate. This, he stated, has led to an embarrassing situation for the party, with the state organisation left out of the loop.
Bhatt further stated that while some of the disappointed aspirants have been named star campaigners, they are only delivering speeches and engaging in photo-ops without genuinely contributing to the campaign.
According to him, apart from the candidate, only a few Congress leaders are actively campaigning. The party is struggling to station workers at polling booths, and there is widespread disillusionment among women supporters, he claimed. On the other hand, Bhatt asserted that there is palpable enthusiasm among the public, particularly women and the youth, for BJP candidate Asha Nautiyal. He said that the youth have high hopes for chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and his vision for a better future.
Highlighting the BJP’s development agenda, Bhatt emphasised that the double-engine government is the only way to address Kedarnath’s challenges, including employment opportunities, unresolved issues and advancements in education and healthcare. He assured that the BJP is committed to fulfilling the late Shaila Rani’s vision and promised that the party would stand firmly behind Nautiyal. He stated that the people have seen through the Congress’s false propaganda and are eager to teach the party a lesson in the upcoming election.
