BJP, Cong eye regional parties, independents ahead of results
HARIDWAR: With uncertainty looming over the outcome of assembly election results to be out on March 10, the BJP and the Congress have started eyeing regional party and independent candidates who are being considered on a winning position, according to party leaders.
The two parties have started contacting some Bahujan Samaj Party, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, and Aam Aadmi Party candidates and a couple of independents through area parliamentarians and local leaders close to such candidates.
A closed-door meeting by BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya in Dehradun on Sunday with Haridwar parliamentarian Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has been linked with the exercise to woo candidates of regional parties and independents in case the BJP falls marginally short of the absolute majority of 36 legislators in the state assembly, party leaders familiar with the development said.
The BJP also held a meeting of its senior leaders from across the state on the counting day preparations, poll outcome, and possible strategies for different scenarios. Sources privy to the meeting, which was also attended later by chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, state BJP president Madan Kaushik and BJP Uttarakhand deputy in charge Rekha Verma, said that though the party is confident of gaining a majority, discussion were held over a scenario arises when party needs support of some other legislators to form a stable government.
“In politics nothing is sure as public mandate is above any prediction, speculation, claim, wave or factors like anti-incumbency. We are confident of winning a majority of seats but if a situation arises when we fall short of majority marginally, then we can’t wait for planning or drawing a strategy, as rival parties may then influence such legislators. But all depends on the initial results on the counting day; it will get clear within a few hours on whether the BJP requires others’ support or not,” said the senior party leader who is known to be close to two Haridwar district BSP ex-legislators contesting this time also.
When contacted, Madan Kaushik refuted any such move, saying as in 2017 this time too the BJP will form the government with maximum seats.
“BJP is forming the state government on its own with absolute majority. Not only in Uttarakhand but in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh where I campaigned for latter phases of election, there is immense pro-BJP wave and both states will witness thumping majority for the BJP,” Kaushik said.
The Congress is also claiming to win 42 to 48 seats but at the same time is panning for situations in which it might need others’ support to form government.
Recently Congress assembly election campaign in charge Harish Rawat had said that even if the Congress comes to power on its own, it will ensure that the party takes along BSP, UKD and like-minded independents as was done during Congress-led government in 20122017 when he was the chief minister.
Congress senior leader and former state unit president Pritam Singh denied to comment on reaching out to nonBJP parties and independents.
“Public has voted for Congress and against BJP’s failed doubleengine governance. Voters have blessed Congress this time with full majority and we are on way to form the government with a clear mandate,” said Pritam Singh, four-time Congress legislator from Chakrata.
Hoping that all non-BJP parties and independents will not side with the BJP, Pradesh Congress Committee president Ganesh Godiyal said that parties believing in secular ideology will surely be with the Congress.
“In 2016 BJP flouted constitutional norms and assembly ethics, and drew the state into a political turmoil by breaking the Congress. Everyone has seen the condition of such legislators who were lured and forced to join the BJP. Other parties and a majority of independents with secular credentials will be with the Congress after the results,” Godiyal said.
The Bahujan Samaj Party, which is in a good position in few assembly segments in Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar, denied that its assembly poll contestants are in touch with the Congress and BJP.
Two-time BSP legislator Mohammed Shahzad, who contested from Laksar segment, said all party candidates and the state leadership will decide future course of action after poll results as per directives of the party national high command.
“BSP will again regain its political status in the state as was in first three assembly elections. No one can influence or buy us; we will abide by party president Mayawati’s directives and take decision accordingly,” said Shahzad.
Uttarakhand Kranti Dal former president Diwakar Bhatt ,who contested from Devprayag segment, said speculations and exit polls can’t be relied upon until final results are officially declared by the election commission.
“Uttarakhand Kranti Dal leadership will take a decision on any such scenario and we will ensure issues being raised by our party are voiced and realised,” said Bhatt, a former cabinet minister.
Political analyst Avdesh Shivpuri said that in case the BJP or Congress requires support from other parties, then the Congress will have an edge owing to its secular credentials and having already taken along BSP-UKD and independents well in the Congress-led Progressive Alliance government in 2012.
“But if independents matter, then the BJP will go all out to induct them in their party fold and even give them cabinet berths,” said Shivpuri.