The issue of creation of a separate state of Uttarakhand has rattled parties in the Garhwal and Kumaon divisions of the UP hills. The BJP is finding it difficult to explain its failure to keep its promise that within 90 days of coming to power, it would form a separate state. The Congress is hammering this point and going for the BJP's jugular in order to regain a foothold in the region.Opposition posters and banners have zeroed in on this issue. A poster of Vijay Bahuguna, Congress candidate in Tehri, reaffirms his commitment to the creation of Uttarakhand while another poster of the Samajwadi Party candidate from Tehri Garhwal constituency, Munna Singh Chauhan, claims Uttarakhand has been his passion. Interestingly, the election posters of BJP have avoided the issue.At their election rallies too the Congress candidates and leaders are accusing the BJP of betrayal on the issue. Bahuguna and Satpal Maharaj, who is contesting from Pauri, accuse the ruling party of playing with the sentiments of thepeople in order to placate their ruling partners (read Akali Dal) who were opposed to a separate state.But the issue is tricky to handle. Ask former Chief Minister N D Tewari, who is fighting one of the toughest electoral battles of his political career from Nainital. He has to oppose the inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar district, a part of Nainital constituency, in the proposed state. He has no choice since Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Naina Balsavar, wife of Akbar Ahmed `Dumpy', and Samajwadi Party candidate Muzaffar Ali, renowned film director, have been doing the same. Tewari has to do a balancing act between the voters in the hilly areas who demand Uttarakhand and the people of Terai.The Congress candidates are not the only one to suffer from this dilemma. Munna Singh Chauhan, Samajwadi Party candidate from Tehri, has been vehemently supporting the demand for Uttarakhand and inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar and Hardwar districts in the state, contrary to what party candidate Muzaffar Ali is saying inNainital. Asked about this contradiction, Chauhan, who is also an MLA from the Chakrata assembly segment, which is part of the Tehri parliamentary constituency, said he has been raising the voice of Uttarakhand at party fora and outside. ``Muzaffar Ali belongs to the world of films but I am a career politician,'' he said.The BJP leaders and candidates are trying to pass on the blame to the Congress. Bhuvan Chand Khanduri, party candidate from Pauri, said the Congress had hatched a conspiracy to ensure that the Vajpayee Government fell before the Uttarakhand Bill, which has been pending before Parliament, was passed.The Uttarakhand Sanjha Morcha, comprising outfits fighting for a separate state, have also fielded candidates on all the four seats in the region and are asking the voters to punish all those responsible for creating hurdles in the path of their dream state.
