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Journalism of Courage
Both the BJP and the Congress claimed victory as the results of the panchayat elections in Uttarakhand were declared late Friday evening. While the ruling party claimed it won 127 of the 315 seats it contested, the Congress said 138 of its 198 candidates were successful, with 80 candidates contesting on the party symbol ending on the winning side in the zila panchayat election.
In 12 districts of the state (except Haridwar), the polls were conducted for 358 zila panchayat members, 2,974 block development council members, and 7,499 panchayat heads. The BJP also claimed the support of 58 rebel candidates, who were not given the party ticket and eventually ended up winning on an independent symbol.
However, the party’s performance in districts such as Chamoli — four of 26 — left much to be desired. Moreover, Nainital MLA Sarita Arya’s son, Rohit Arya, contesting from the Bhowali Gaon district panchayat seat, was defeated by an Independent. Neetu Rawat, the wife of Lansdowne MLA Dilip Rawat, also lost in the district panchayat elections. BJP legislator Mahesh Jeena’s son Karan Jeena lost the election for the Bublia area panchayat seat. Mahesh is the MLA from Almora’s Salt. In Badrinath, where the Congress won the by-election last year after the defection of then MLA Rajendra Bhandari to the BJP, his wife Rajni was defeated.
The election results may also lead to questions about the re-election of BJP state chief Mahendra Bhatt, in whose own home district of Chamoli the BJP put in a subpar performance. Chamoli BJP president Gajpal Barthwal was among those who suffered a defeat.
Bhatt said it was incorrect to link the defeat of any relative of a party MLA or office bearer directly with that individual. “The party had left 43 seats open, and even there, it secured victories on 31 seats. Additionally, 58 candidates aligned with the BJP ideology also won. Altogether, the BJP has won 216 seats, a clear majority to form boards in the districts,” he said.
Hailing the party’s performance, the Congress’s Suryakant Dhasmana, senior vice-president (organisation), said, “Not just in rural pockets, we have made massive gains in urban areas. In Dehradun, of the total 30, 12 were won by Congress candidates while four are from the Congress background,” he said.
The BJP won seven seats in the district. “The Congress has gained an edge in both the Garhwal and Kumaon regions. We will form district panchayat boards in 8 to 10 out of 12 districts. Several party leaders and their relatives have lost. Rajni Bhandari was the sitting chairperson of the Zila Panchayat, and Nainital sitting chairman has also lost,” Dhasmana said.
Party spokesperson Sheeshpal Bisht said the party was optimistic about its prospects for the Assembly polls in 2027. “The Congress faced the BJP’s situation in 2019, and now, they are in our shoes,” he added.
