BJP left red-faced, HC order gives Cong upper hand

NEW DELHI: The Uttarakhand high court’s order setting aside President’s rule may prove to be a severe setback for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The order has two highlights. First, it will show the Centre and the BJP in the poor light — the BJP appeared in a hurry to form the government in a state that was going to polls in less than a year from the start of the crisis.

Against the backdrop of a similar crisis in Arunachal Pradesh, the President’s rule in Uttarakhand had the opposition up in arms. Given its minority status in the Rajya Sabha, garnering support in the upper house for President’s rule will be a difficult task.

Second, the high court order has come as a shot in the arm for chief minister Harish Rawat, who embarked on a state-wide tour immediately after the court pronounced it.

Rawat is also relived with his detractors walking out of the Congress and the BJP owning up their anti-incumbency.

Its leaders are upset with the observations the court made, fearing that it will provide a psychological balm to Rawat.

The BJP is also worried that the court’s order does not auger well for the Centre, which has been batting for cooperative federalism.

Anxiety is palpable in the BJP camp, with the party apprehensive over Rawat getting the first shot to prove majority in the state. “There is enough time in his hand to manoeuvre things. We certainly wanted to avoid this,” a BJP functionary told Hindustan Times.

The party stands by the Centre’s decision to impose President’s rule, insisting there was a constitutional crisis on March 18 when assembly speaker tried to pass the budget with voice vote without Rawat being in majority.

“There were certain technical errors on the part of the Raj Bhawan that weakened our case. But there was a merit in imposition of President’s rule,” a BJP functionary said.

Party leaders accept they may not have articulated the fact properly.