Dehradun: Election observers have said that the BJP, which won all five seats in Uttarakhand in the last two Lok Sabha elections, may have to face a tough fight this time in two seats in the state - Pauri Garhwal and Haridwar.
The hill state will go to polls in the first phase on April 19, with campaigning for five seats ending on Wednesday.
Former state Congress president Ganesh Godiyal is contesting against BJP national spokesperson Anil Baluni in Pauri Garhwal, while veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister Harish Rawat's son Virendra Rawat is contesting against former BJP Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat in Haridwar. Baluni's closeness to the central leadership is well known, but Dehradun-based political analyst Jaisingh Rawat said people in the constituency are seeing him as a "parachute candidate".
“His connect with the voters is not as strong as Godiyal,” he said.,
"Godiyal delivers his speeches in Garhwali and connects instantly with the local people. He has also contributed to a degree college in Paithani, one of the most backward areas of the constituency," the expert said. He added, "Pauri is Uttarakhand's It is the largest district which is most affected by migration mainly due to lack of educational and health facilities. Godiyal, who owns industries in Mumbai, has donated to welfare activities in the constituency, making a positive impact on the local people."
Godiyal has been campaigning aggressively in the constituency and his poll rallies are drawing comfortable crowds.Jaisingh Rawat said, however, that it remains to be seen whether this public reaction translates into votes for him or not.
However, according to the locals, they do not see a better option than Prime Minister Narendra Modi, although they are not very satisfied with the neglect of the constituencies by the MPs after being elected. Kamal Dhyani, a local youth from Pauri said, “The election They come to us for votes and after winning they disappear for five years.
There is also resentment among the youth regarding Agniveer Yojana, a short-term scheme for recruitment in the armed forces. They are also not happy with the slow progress in the resort receptionist Ankita Bhandari murder case.People in Chelusain, Pauri Garhwal, have complaints against the local MP and MLAs but believe they should vote for Modi in the national interest. "People are happy with the Agniveer scheme and the slow pace of investigation into Ankita Bhandari's murder," the resident said. But he believes that there is no competition for Narendra Modi."
A political expert in Haridwar said Baluni's closeness to top BJP leaders has raised hopes that if he wins the seat, he will get a cabinet berth in Modi's next term. “This factor could work in their favor,” he said.
Jaisingh Rawat, an expert on Haridwar seat, said that senior BJP leader and former CM Trivendra Rawat is definitely miles ahead of Virendra Rawat in terms of experience, but due to the vigorous campaigning of Congress veteran Harish Rawat for his son and the demographics of the seat. In this case, 30-35 percent minority votes may increase the difficulties for the BJP candidate.However, some analysts believe that Trivendra Rawat's experiential edge over Virendra Rawat and the strong "Modi factor" may help him move ahead.
"Modi is once again the deciding factor. Under his leadership, people will vote for a stable BJP government at the Center and the BJP will retain all five seats in Uttarakhand."
Haridwar-based political analyst Dr Pradeep Joshi said, "However, this time the victory margin in Haridwar may be less than last time." BJP's star campaigners like Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and JP Nadda have also voted in the name of Modi. He is seeking votes and saying that his third term as Prime Minister will pave the way for building a developed India.If the “Modi magic” works again as it did in the 2014 and 2019 general elections, neutralizing local factors, the BJP will clearly benefit, but unemployment, inflation, continuous migration from the hills and the like in the last 10 years. Demonstration of BJP MPs in Uttarakhand Another election observer said, Congress will benefit by weighing heavily on national issues.
Uttarakhand Congress President Karan Mehra has strongly raised the issue of the plight of villages adopted by BJP MPs for development as model villages. The MPs were to adopt five villages in their respective constituencies and they were to be converted into model villages. However, all the villages adopted by BJP MPs are still waiting for development. BJP's lies have been exposed and people will punish the party on 19th April.,” Mahara said.
Both Haridwar and Pauri Garhwal are prestigious seats that have been held by BJ and Congress stalwarts in the past. While former chief minister Harish Rawat won from Haridwar in 2009, another former chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (BJP) wrested the seat from Congress in 2014 by defeating Harish Rawat's wife Renuka. He has been holding the seat since then. However, BJP has fielded Trivendra Singh Rawat in his place. This time Nishank is against Virendra Rawat who is making his electoral debut.Pauri is also a high profile seat which was won by former chief ministers Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri and Satpal Maharaj. It is currently held by former Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat. However, election observers are unanimous that Narendra Modi may once again emerge as the only major factor working in favor of BJ candidates as was the case in 2014 and 2019. This happened in the general elections when the party won all five seats in the state.
The hill state will go to polls in the first phase on April 19, with campaigning for five seats ending on Wednesday.
Former state Congress president Ganesh Godiyal is contesting against BJP national spokesperson Anil Baluni in Pauri Garhwal, while veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister Harish Rawat's son Virendra Rawat is contesting against former BJP Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat in Haridwar. Baluni's closeness to the central leadership is well known, but Dehradun-based political analyst Jaisingh Rawat said people in the constituency are seeing him as a "parachute candidate".
“His connect with the voters is not as strong as Godiyal,” he said.,
"Godiyal delivers his speeches in Garhwali and connects instantly with the local people. He has also contributed to a degree college in Paithani, one of the most backward areas of the constituency," the expert said. He added, "Pauri is Uttarakhand's It is the largest district which is most affected by migration mainly due to lack of educational and health facilities. Godiyal, who owns industries in Mumbai, has donated to welfare activities in the constituency, making a positive impact on the local people."
Godiyal has been campaigning aggressively in the constituency and his poll rallies are drawing comfortable crowds.Jaisingh Rawat said, however, that it remains to be seen whether this public reaction translates into votes for him or not.
However, according to the locals, they do not see a better option than Prime Minister Narendra Modi, although they are not very satisfied with the neglect of the constituencies by the MPs after being elected. Kamal Dhyani, a local youth from Pauri said, “The election They come to us for votes and after winning they disappear for five years.
There is also resentment among the youth regarding Agniveer Yojana, a short-term scheme for recruitment in the armed forces. They are also not happy with the slow progress in the resort receptionist Ankita Bhandari murder case.People in Chelusain, Pauri Garhwal, have complaints against the local MP and MLAs but believe they should vote for Modi in the national interest. "People are happy with the Agniveer scheme and the slow pace of investigation into Ankita Bhandari's murder," the resident said. But he believes that there is no competition for Narendra Modi."
A political expert in Haridwar said Baluni's closeness to top BJP leaders has raised hopes that if he wins the seat, he will get a cabinet berth in Modi's next term. “This factor could work in their favor,” he said.
Jaisingh Rawat, an expert on Haridwar seat, said that senior BJP leader and former CM Trivendra Rawat is definitely miles ahead of Virendra Rawat in terms of experience, but due to the vigorous campaigning of Congress veteran Harish Rawat for his son and the demographics of the seat. In this case, 30-35 percent minority votes may increase the difficulties for the BJP candidate.However, some analysts believe that Trivendra Rawat's experiential edge over Virendra Rawat and the strong "Modi factor" may help him move ahead.
"Modi is once again the deciding factor. Under his leadership, people will vote for a stable BJP government at the Center and the BJP will retain all five seats in Uttarakhand."
Haridwar-based political analyst Dr Pradeep Joshi said, "However, this time the victory margin in Haridwar may be less than last time." BJP's star campaigners like Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and JP Nadda have also voted in the name of Modi. He is seeking votes and saying that his third term as Prime Minister will pave the way for building a developed India.If the “Modi magic” works again as it did in the 2014 and 2019 general elections, neutralizing local factors, the BJP will clearly benefit, but unemployment, inflation, continuous migration from the hills and the like in the last 10 years. Demonstration of BJP MPs in Uttarakhand Another election observer said, Congress will benefit by weighing heavily on national issues.
Uttarakhand Congress President Karan Mehra has strongly raised the issue of the plight of villages adopted by BJP MPs for development as model villages. The MPs were to adopt five villages in their respective constituencies and they were to be converted into model villages. However, all the villages adopted by BJP MPs are still waiting for development. BJP's lies have been exposed and people will punish the party on 19th April.,” Mahara said.
Both Haridwar and Pauri Garhwal are prestigious seats that have been held by BJ and Congress stalwarts in the past. While former chief minister Harish Rawat won from Haridwar in 2009, another former chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (BJP) wrested the seat from Congress in 2014 by defeating Harish Rawat's wife Renuka. He has been holding the seat since then. However, BJP has fielded Trivendra Singh Rawat in his place. This time Nishank is against Virendra Rawat who is making his electoral debut.Pauri is also a high profile seat which was won by former chief ministers Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri and Satpal Maharaj. It is currently held by former Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat. However, election observers are unanimous that Narendra Modi may once again emerge as the only major factor working in favor of BJ candidates as was the case in 2014 and 2019. This happened in the general elections when the party won all five seats in the state.
