BJP, Cong hold key meetings in Delhi to decide candidates
Late chief of defence staff General Bipin Rawat’s younger brother joins the BJP
DEHRADUN: With only two days left for start of filing nominations for the February 14 state assembly election, the central leadership of the ruling BJP and opposition Congress on Wednesday held key meetings in Delhi to decide on their candidates.
While the BJP held its central parliamentary board meeting, the Congress held its central election committee. Till the report was filed, both the meetings are going on.
Of the two, the BJP has almost finalised names on at least 55 seats while it is yet to make a consensus on the remaining 15 of the total 70 assembly seats.
A senior BJP leader privy to the development on condition of anonymity said, “The party has decided names of candidates on about 55 seats while decision is yet to be made on 15 seats. As per the party procedure, a panel of three names on each seat has been made on the basis of merit. However, on the remaining 15 seats, some of them have four names in the panel to choose from.”
The leader added, “The central leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah and party national president JP Nadda, will take a final decision on the names in presence of the state leadership that includes chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and state president Madan Kaushik. After the decision is made, the list is likely to be announced in next two days.”
Another leader on the condition of anonymity said the party leadership was contemplating on the changed equations in some seats after the expulsion of former cabinet minister Harak Singh from the party.
“The party will now monitor his move - whether he joins Congress or not,” said the leader.
In Dehradun, some BJP workers held an agitation at the party state headquarters demanding the leadership to deny ticket to sitting MLA from Yamunotri constituency Kedar Singh Rawat. The workers alleged: “Rawat hasn’t worked in his constituency in the past five years which will lead to party’s defeat if he again contests. Hence, a new young face should be given a chance this time.”
In a separate development, younger brother of late chief of defense staff Gen Bipin Rawat, Col Vijay Rawat (retd) joined the BJP at the party headquarters in Delhi in presence of chief minister Dhami, state president Kaushik and state unit in charge Dushyant Kumar Gautam.
Welcoming Rawat in the party folds, Dhami said, “Rawat, who is the brother of the late CDS, has a long military background as he served in the army for 34 years.”
“The BJP has always hailed the army men’s contribution and sacrifices for the country. Late Gen Rawat, who hailed from Uttarakhand, was dedicated towards the modernisation of the army. A pride of Uttarakhand, he always wanted to work for the state. We are sure his brother’s inclusion will strengthen the party as he too will work to carry forward Late CDS’s vision for the state and serve the people of Uttarakhand,” said Dhami.
The Congress is also holding a meeting of their central election committee to decide on the names of candidates. The meeting which is still going on, had the presence of all the senior state leaders including former CM Harish Rawat, leader of Opposition Pritam Singh and party state president Ganesh Godiyal. Congress state general secretary Mathura Dutt Joshi, who is privy to the development, said, “The meeting is going on in which the leadership will take a final decision on the candidates on all the seats. However, the list will be announced in two phases with the first one to be announced likely by Thursday.”