Emphatic win will silence his detractors both within and outside BJP in the State
Gajendra Singh Negi | DEHRADUN
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami emerged as the chief architect of BJP’s historic win in Kedarnath Assembly by-election. After the twin defeats of BJP in the by-elections of Manglaur and Badrinath the prestige of chief minister Dhami was at stake in Kedarnath. Considering the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi keeps visiting Kedarnath, the central leadership of the BJP was also keeping a close watch on the by-election outcome.
The Congress party which had suffered a humiliating defeat in all the five Lok Sabha constituencies of the State in the general elections held in June 2024 got revived after the by-election victories in Manglaur and Badrinath held in July this year. The Congress was hoping that considering the ground situation in Kedarnath it would be able to wrest the seat from BJP and this would pave the way for its return to power in 2027 Assembly elections.
The Congress concentrated its campaign on the issues of prestige of Baba Kedarnath and tried to corner CM Dhami for inaugurating the Kedarnath temple in Buradi of New Delhi. It also accused the ruling BJP for the missing gold from the Kedarnath temple. Its leaders tried to create an impression that the ruling BJP and CM Dhami were trying to undermine the Char Dham Yatra and there is a sinister plan to shift the Yatra to Kumaon region. The Congress also attacked the Dhami government for mismanagement of the Yatra due to which the livelihood of the large number of people dependent on the Yatra got affected.
The Congress leaders also raised the issue of the disaster and the anti encroachment drives in some areas of the constituency. In such a situation, the Congress leadership was finding things in its favour and the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Karan Mahara also took out a Kedarnath Pratishta Raksha Yatra to cash on the anti- BJP sentiment in the constituency. In such a situation, the CM took the command of the BJP’s campaign in his own hands. Taking lessons from the Badrinath debacle where BJP had fielded Rajendra Bhandari, a Congress turncoat, the CM fielded the head of BJP Mahila Morcha and former MLA Asha Nautiyal from the constituency. Dhami also persuaded Aishwarya Rawat, daughter of incumbent MLA Late Shaila Rani Rawat and formidable Kuldeep Rawat who had secured second position in the Assembly elections of 2017 and 2022 as an independent candidate to campaign in favour Asha Nautiyal.
In the campaign, CM accepted that some issues affected the Yatra in its initial phase and promised to rectify the mistakes in next year’s Yatra. Acting on his promise to the people of Kedarnath that he will act as MLA of the constituency till a new MLA is elected; the CM announced a series of development schemes in the area. Prior to the imposition of the model code of conduct (MCC) Dhami had announced projects worth Rs 700 crore for the constituency.
Political observers opine that the victory in Kedarnath will further strengthen the position of CM Dhami in the State BJP as it will silence his detractors.
