It’s all in stars: Netas consult astrologers before filing papers
DEHRADUN: From finding out a ‘shubh muhurat’ (auspicious time) for filing nominations to suggesting lucky colours to wear on D-day, astrologers in Uttarakhand have their hands full with netas lining up on their doorsteps for last-minute advice.
The filing of nominations for the 70-seat Uttarakhand assembly begins on January 20 and will continue till January 27. The BJP has already announced candidates for 64 seats, the Congress, too, is likely to release its list soon.
Shailarani Rawat, a Congress turncoat who will now fight the election on a BJP ticket from Kedarnath seat, will file her nominations on January 25 from Rudraprayag district. “I consulted my family astrologer for the date, time and colour that I should wear on that day. I’ll visit Maa Kaali’s temple before proceeding towards the district administration's office as per pandit ji’s advice,” the former Kedarnath MLA told HT.
Former Raipur MLA Umesh Sharma ‘Kau’ will be filing nominations on January 23 and before 1 pm. “Not just us, but also many of our supporters too consulted astrologers at their individual level and only then we decided on the ‘shubh muhurat’,” Kau’s son Gaurav Sharma told HT. Kau will also seek his mother Kirti Sharma’s blessings before heading off to file nominations.
Saurabh Bahuguna, who will be making his electoral debut from Sitarganj in Udham Singh Nagar district, believes his father is lucky for him and will file nominations only in his presence on January 25 “I fixed the date as per my father’s convenience to join me on that day,” the son of former Uttarakhand CM Vijay Bahuguna who had led the rebellion of nine MLAs’ against the Congress in March last year, told HT.
Besides the propitious day and time, astrologers are also getting queries from politicos on the special pujas they should perform to increase their prospects.
Astrologer Sushant Raj, who has been consulted by over a dozen netas so far, said, “We’re offering individual advice based on their (leaders’) astrological signs and graha dasha (planetary placements). We also ask them to avoid filing papers during the raahu kaal (considered inauspicious),” he told HT.