Saturday, 16 April 2022 | Gajendra Singh Negi | Dehradun
Major Gen (Rtd) BC Khanduri and Vijay Bahuguna had entered assembly after roping in opposition party’s MLAs
History would repeat itself if the Congress party fails to assuage the hurt sentiments of its MLA from Dharchula, Harish Dhami and he relinquishes his membership of state assembly to pave the way for the entry of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in the assembly. In the past Uttarakhand has witnessed a complete somersault made by the MLAs of opposition party when they resigned from their party and membership of state assembly to ensure entry of chief minister of rival party in the assembly. In the year 2007, the BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP) dislodged Congress from the power in the assembly elections. The party formed the government with the support of independents and three MLAs of UttarakhandKranti Dal (UKD). The then cabinet minister and Member of Parliament (MP) from Garhwal, Major General (retd) B C Khanduri was made the chief minister of the state by the central leadership of the party. Since Khanduri was not the member of state assembly it was necessary for him to get elected in the assembly within six months of his taking the charge of the CM. At that time some MLAs of BJP were ready to leave their seats for the CM but the saffron party played a masterstroke by roping in the senior Congress leader and MLA from Dhumakot assembly Lieutenant General (retd) TPS Rawat to its side. BJP at that time had 34 seats in the assembly as compared to 21 of Congress party which left the BJP just short of the crucial number of 36 in the 70 member house. The party leaders prudently decided to poach someone from the opposition to get the CM elected to the assembly and at the same time increasing the strength of the party in the house. In a give and take formula Rawat who offered his VidhanSabha seat to Khanduri was given a BJP ticket from PauriLokSabha seat which Khanduri had vacated. As expected Khanduri got elected to VidhanSabha in the by-election while Lt Gen (retd) TPS Rawat entered LokSabha. In the year 2012 it was the Congress party which repeated the act of poaching opposition MLA when KiranMandal of BJP left his Sitarganj seat in Udham Singh Nagar district for the then CM Vijay Bahuguna of Congress. In the by-election, Bahuguna won from the seat and from then on this constituency has become a bastion for the Bahuguna family with his son and present Cabinet Minister SaurabhBahuguna winning from the seat in the 2017 and 2022 assembly elections.
Interestingly Harish Dhami who has offered to quit his seat for CM Pushkar Singh Dhami had resigned from Dharchula in the year 2014 to pave the way for his leader Harish Rawat’s entry in the state assembly. The political observers are of the view that it would be a virtual cakewalk for the CM Dhami if he contests from Dharchula after Harish Dhami resigns from the seat and joins BJP. Harish Dhami is a three time MLA and enjoys an immense clout in the area. Moreover CM Dhami is a native of Pithoragarh district where Dharchula is located.
