UKD to fight polls on Gairsain, migration
HARIDWAR: The Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) will raise the issue of making Gairsain as the permanent capital of the state, migration from hill areas and unemployment, among other local issues, during the campaign for the next year’s assembly elections, leaders of the regional political party said.
“The party will effectively raise local issues which touch the lives and livelihood of the people,” UKD president Kashi Singh Airy said here on Monday.
The party has released the first list of candidates for the assembly polls and Airy said the second list will be announced soon.
“First list of 16 candidates was released on December 21 and the second list will be released soon. We are fielding candidates who have been dedicated party workers, have major influence in their assembly segments and are connected with voters,” Airy said.
“UKD is emerging as an alternative to the BJP and the Congress which have failed to live up to the aspirations of the local people.
“Even after 21 years of separate statehood, Uttarakhand is lacking in development and quality health care and higher education. Unemployment and migration from hill districts remain major problems.”
Emphasising that UKD will effectively raise the issue of Gairsain as the permanent capital, Airy said the party will conduct its election campaign on the slogan, “Humne banaya tha aur hum hi banayenge.”
“UKD spearheaded the Uttarakhand separate statehood movement in the early 80s and 90s. After failed tenures of the BJP and Congress-led state governments, we will urge voters to again give the reins to UKD to realise the aspirations of the hill state people,” Airy said.
Asked if he would contest the elections, Airy, a four-time legislator, said, “If the party requires me to contest, I will do so, but nothing is clear. In the capacity of UKD president, I have the responsibility to ensure win of the party candidates.”
On UKD’s claims, Congress state vice president Dhirendra
Pratap said, “It was Congress which held the first assembly session in Gairsain and also started construction of the assembly building there way back in 2013.”
BJP state president Madan Kaushik said his party had played a crucial role in the formation of Uttarakhand.
The hill state, he said, was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in 2000 under the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government.
“Gairsain as summer capital was also announced by BJP-led state government and under chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, special focus is being given to provide employment and rein in migration with schemes like homestay, promotion of local agricultural crops and seasonal fruits, and linking of religious, spiritual, tourist spots with tourist circuit,” Kaushik said.
Aam Aadmi Party’s Haridwar district media spokesperson Hema Bhandari said UKD has lost faith of the voters and that his party has emerged as an alternative to the Congress and BJP in the state.