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Journalism of Courage
Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD), a regional party, has again decided to support alliance partner BJP in the Pauri Garhwal by-election despite opposition from within its ranks.
The senior leadership faced ire of its workers on this issue during a meeting of the central working committee of the party at Ramnagar on Sunday.
Uttarakhand Revenue Minister Diwakar Bhatt, the sole UKD minister in the BJP Government, had a tough time convincing his party rank and file in continuing support to BJP. Finally, UKD working committee decided not to field its candidate in the Pauri Garhwal by-election giving the much-needed relief to BJP candidate Lt Gen (retd) T P S Rawat. Bhatt was also present when the nomination papers were filed at Pauri today.
A large number of senior state BJP leaders, led by Chief Minister B C Khanduri, were also present as a show of solidarity with Rawat. However, the issue of extending support to BJP divided the rank and file of the outfit. Mahesh Parihar, vice-president of the party, said the UKD should toe an independent line on various issues and should not be seen as an ally of the BJP.
