Uttarakhand Election Results 2022 Highlights: BJP dominates battlefield, wins 47 seats; Dhami submits resignation

The Election Commission on Friday lifted the model code of conduct which was in force in five states where assembly polls were held recently.

The model code of conduct came into place on January 8 in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur where polls were held in seven phases between February 10 and March 7. The results were announced on Thursday.

In a communication to the cabinet secretary and chief secretaries of Assam and the five states, the commission said after the declaration of results, the model code has ceased to be in force. (PTI)

Former Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat met BJP state president Madan Kaushik at the party office in Dehradun on Friday after the latter’s victory in the Assembly polls from Haridwar constituency.

Madan Kaushik defeated Indian National Congress’ Satpal Brahamchari by a margin of 15,237 votes. While Kaushik received 53,147 votes (55.45%), Brahamchari managed to get only 37,910 votes (39.56%).

(PTI photo)

The Uttarakhand assembly poll result has presented the BJP with a dilemma of sorts as it weighs various options after outgoing chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami who was tipped to continue in the post lost the election even as the party stormed back to power.

Party sources said Union ministers Piyush Goyal and Dharmendra Pradhan may be sent to the state as central observers to oversee the legislative party meeting to elect the new leader. No date has been fixed for the meeting yet.

The BJP has created history in the hill state by retaining power as every other previous government was voted out in the past. It won 47 seats in the 70-member assembly. (PTI)

A day after BJP recorded a big victory in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday handed his resignation and that of his cabinet to Governor Lt Gen (retd) Gurmit Singh.

"As we have got a new mandate and our tenure is complete we have tendered our resignation to the Governor. I have been asked to continue until the new government is sworn in," Dhami told reporters after coming out of Raj Bhawan.

Dhami's cabinet colleagues Satpal Maharaj, Ganesh Joshi and Swami Yatiswaranand were also with him. (PTI)

As much as 27 per cent of the 70 candidates who have won the Uttarakhand assembly polls have declared criminal cases against themselves, according to poll reforms advocacy group Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

The ADR said the Uttarakhand Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all the 70 winning candidates.

“Out of the 70 winning candidates analysed in 2022, 19 (27%) winning candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. Out of 70 MLAs analysed during the Uttarakhand Assembly elections in 2017, 22 (31%) MLAs had declared criminal cases against themselves,” the ADR said. (PTI)

The Congress election manifesto had promised to keep the price of LPG cylinders below Rs 500, jobs, monetary allowance to 5 lakh families, better health facilities, and 40% reservation for women in government jobs. Voters chose the BJP, whose promises about national security, Army welfare, and religious tourism apparently mattered more to them.

Not enough by Congress: Although the Congress appeared to have ticked all the right boxes in terms of managing infighting within the party and making sound electoral promises, its dwindling presence at the national level may have worked against it in Uttarakhand. The defeat in a state where the Congress was the most hopeful has also put a question mark on its future overall.

National vs local: In Uttarakhand, the BJP has been able to break the perception that voting takes place on hyper-local issues. Also, the image of the BJP being a pro-Army party and one that can promote religious tourism appeared to have helped it in the state, which has high participation in the Indian Army, and is dependent on religious tourism.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roadshow here on Friday, a day after the BJP stormed back to power in Uttar Pradesh, and also retained Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa. Riding in an open car decorated with floral garlands, Modi waved to people as his roadshow began from the airport to Kamalam, BJP's state headquarters in Gandhinagar. Kamalam is around 10 km from the airport. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and state BJP president C R Paatil were seen flanking Modi in the vehicle. 

An analysis of Uttarakhand election indicates that women turned out in huge numbers for the BJP.

In an unprecedented turn of events, women voters outnumbered male voters in 38 of the 70 assembly seats. The voting patterns appear to suggest that the double-engine philosophy has shaped up rather agreeably for the BJP. The BJP’s well-oiled electoral machinery — consisting of manpower, managerial efficiency and unlimited resources – has become formidable in Uttarakhand.

As Uttarakhand’s fifth state assembly elections wind down, let us take a look at some of the key factors that determined its outcome and how the major players fared.

• Having thus far been an electorally bipolar state, this election marks the first time in the state’s history that the ruling party has not lost the election. Some may see this as a testament to the BJP’s sway over the Himalayan state whereas others may feel it more noteworthy to point out the ineffectiveness of the opposition parties.
• Despite the political baggage that comes with having appointed three different chief ministers over the past year, the “Modi magic” remains intact. 
• Further, Modi’s public affection for Uttarakhand — which includes his personal involvement in the Kedarnath restoration and Badrinath redevelopment plans — has catapulted him to an almost unassailable status in the eyes of many.
• That being said, the current chief minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, who came to power approximately six months ago, has also helped to steady the BJP ship.

The brief political history of Uttarakhand suggests that the hill state has never been kind to those who occupy the chief ministerial chair. No sitting chief minister in the state could ever defend his own seat, and the last five chief ministers have been on a political slide after vacating  the chair.

The trend continued in the Thursday results of the Assembly elections as sitting CM Pushkar Singh Dhami and former CM Harish Rawat couldn’t win their respective seats. The giant killers — Congress candidate Bhuwan Chandra Kapri who defeated Dhami, and Mohan Singh Bisht who got better of Rawat — registered their first victory in a Vidhan Sabha election.

After the 2017 electoral drubbing when Rawat had lost from two seats (Haridwar Rural and Kichha), this election was very crucial for the former chief minister. In a conversation with The Indian Express before the elections, Rawat admitted that the 2017 results had disheartened him, and put in a little extra focus on his own seat this time. Read Avaneesh Mishra's report

In 2017, when the BJP won 57 of the total 70 Assembly seats, its victory was powered by the Garhwal region, where it won 34 of the 41 seats. This was partly attributed to the defection of several powerful Congress leaders from the region, including Satpal Maharaj, Harak Singh Rawat and Vijay Bahuguna, who joined the BJP ahead of the elections. This year, with Harak Singh Rawat back in the party, the Congress seemed to have assumed that they were evenly matched in Garhwal, and focussed more on Kumaon. But the results on Thursday showed that although its tally in the region fell to 29, the BJP continued to score big in the region, setting up a strong foundation for its overall victory.

The Congress won eight seats in Garhwal, up from six in 2017. The BSP and Independents won two seats each. Of  total 29 seats in Kumaon region, the BJP won 18, down from 23 in 2017, while the Congress got 11, up from five in 2017. Read Avaneesh Mishra's report

Beating anti-incumbancy the BJP became the first ruling party to be voted back to power in Uttarakhand on Thursday, winning 47 seats. However, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami lost the election from Khatima, where Congress candidate Bhuwan Chandra Kapri won by a margin of over 6,500 votes. The Congress won 18 seats and was leading in one more in the 70-seat Assembly. According to the Election Commission data, BJP got 44.3 per cent of the votes, while the Congress got 37.9 per cent. In 2017, the BJP had won 57 seats, Congress 11, and Independents 2.

The BJP, which had faced criticism for changing the chief minister thrice in the last five years, had announced Dhami as its CM face. But his defeat has now left the field open. BJP sources in Delhi said while Dhami enjoys the confidence of the party’s top leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he is unlikely to be named for the top post now. Read full report

According to the ECI website, the saffron party has bagged 47 of the total 70 segments in the State.

While the Congress has won 18 constituencies and is leading in one segment; the BSP has won one seat and is leading in another one.

One constituency was bagged by an Independent candidate, while another candidate is leading one of the segments. (Updates as of 10.45 pm)

After the saffron party registered victory in four out of five states that went to Assembly polls recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the voters of all these states.

The people of UP, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur have showered @BJP4India will great affection. My gratitude to the people of these states. Our Party cherishes these blessings and will keep working for the development of these states.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 10, 2022

The BJP has so far won 45 Assembly seats in Uttarakhand and leads in two more, while the Congress has emerged victorious in 17 seats and leads in two more. The BSP has one a seat and leads in one more, while Independent candidates have bagged two seats.

Though heading for a big win for a second consecutive term in Uttarakhand, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) tally seems to be shrinking by around 10 seats. It had won 57 seats in the 2017 Uttarakhand Assembly polls.

The Congress on the other hand has improved its performance by winning 17 seats and leading in two more. It had won 11 seats in 2017 against the BJP's historic score of 57 out of a total of 70 Assembly seats in the state. (PTI)

Harak Singh Rawat's daughter-in-law and Congress candidate Anukriti Gusain Rawat has lost from Lansdowne Assembly segment against Bharatiya Janata Party’s Daleep Singh Rawat by a margin of 9,868 votes.

BJP's Ritu Khanduri Bhushan, daughter of former Uttarakhand CM BC Khanduri, has won the Kotdwar seat by a margin of 3,687 votes against Congress' Surendra Singh Negi. 

As the incumbent BJP is all set to return to power in Uttarakhand, party leaders Pralhad Joshi, Pushkar Singh Dhami, Kailash Vijayvargiya, along with other leaders and activists, celebrated the BJP's win in Uttarakhand Assembly polls in Dehradun on Thursday.

(PTI Photo)

According to the Election Commission of India's (ECI) website, of the total 70 segments in the State, the saffron party has already bagged 40, apart from leading in seven seats.

While the Congress has bagged 16 constituencies and is leading in three ones; the BSP has won and is leading in one seat respectively. One constituency was bagged by an Independent candidate, while another candidate is leading one of the segments. (Updates as of 8.10 pm)

With the BJP appearing to retain power in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who lost his own seat, thanked the people of the state and reiterated his promise of implementing Uniform Civil Code.

Dhami addressed a joint press conference at the BJP office here along with party national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and the party's poll in-charge for Uttarakhand Pralhad Joshi.

"I want to thank the people for giving the party a two-third majority. I went repeatedly in their midst to tell them about the work done in road and health sectors under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Dhami said. (PTI)

We will form a high-level committee after forming the govt to implement the Uniform Civil Code. The committee will prepare a draft and we will implement it in Uttarakhand as we've promised to the people of the state: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami in Dehradun pic.twitter.com/zikpnz1gIp

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 10, 2022

The BJP headed for a big victory in the Uttarakhand Assembly polls on Thursday, winning 32 of 70 seats and leading in 15 even as incumbent CM Pushkar Singh Dhami lost by 6,579 votes in Khatima, a seat he had been winning for the last two consecutive elections.

The defeat of the man who led the party's campaign against the Congress in the state throws up a big question before the saffron party, which now may have to look for a new CM as it was banking heavily on Dhami seeking a full five-year term for him to deliver on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of development for Uttarakhand.

The Congress failed in its bid to stage a comeback despite being on a mission to dislodge the BJP to avenge its rout at the hands of the party in 2017 Assembly polls, where it had won just 11 seats against the BJP's 57. (PTI)

As the incumbent BJP is all set to return to power in Uttarakhand, bucking the trend of alternate governments in the hill state, activists have began celebrating their party's victory at various places. The streets of Dehradun is currently abuzz with celebrations.

(PTI photo)

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who contested from Khatima Assembly constituency, has lost the election to Indian National Congress' Bhuwan Chandra Kapri by a margin of 6,579 votes, as per official EC trends.

While Dhami received 41,598 votes (44.8 per cent), Kapri got 48,177 votes (51.89 per cent). Meanwhile, Bahujan Samaj Party's (BSP) Ramesh Singh, who came third, managed to get only 937 votes (1.01 per cent).

According to the Election Commission of India's (ECI) website, of the total 70 segments in the State, the saffron party has already registered victory in 27 ones, apart from leading in 20 seats.

While the Congress has bagged 11 constituencies and is leading in eight ones; the BSP has won and is leading in one seat respectively. At the same time, Independent candidates are leading in two segments. (Updates as of 6.20 pm)

Former Congress president and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that he accepted the people’s verdict and extended his best wishes to those who won the mandate.

In a tweet posted on his official handle, the parliamentarian said: “My gratitude to all Congress workers and volunteers for their hard work and dedication. We will learn from this and keep working for the interests of the people of India.” (Twitter, Rahul Gandhi)

The Bharatiya Janata Party is all set to retain power in Uttar Pradesh as it has already crossed the halfway mark in the early rounds of counting on election results.

It will be for the first time since 1985 that a ruling party will be returning to power in Uttar Pradesh. Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party, however, managed to improve its 2017 tally.

BJP is forming govt with 2/3 majority. New records are being made since PM Modi became PM. I am thankful to party and central leadership for giving an opportunity to a person like me of a humble background: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami pic.twitter.com/jV9zAbE3hy

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 10, 2022

After the defeat in assembly polls in five states, the Congress on Thursday said the election results are contrary to the party's expectations, but it accepts the people's mandate.

Addressing a press conference at the party's headquarters here, Congress general secretary and chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the party may have lost elections but not its courage and will continue to fight till it emerges victorious.

He also said that the Congress will reinvent and return with a new strategy and will always stand with the people, raising their issues, including inflation, unemployment and the 'sinking' economy, with the same responsibility. (PTI)

Uttarakhand CM and BJP leader Pushkar Singh Dhami arrives at the party's headquarters in Dehradun

He is trailing by over 6,900 votes in Khatima Assembly constituency. pic.twitter.com/whzlbzJFPv

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 10, 2022

Stating that the party’s efforts were a little less to win over the public of Uttarakhand, Congress leader Harish Rawat Thursday said that he accepted the mandate of the people and took full responsibility for the defeat.

“Our campaign strategy was insufficient and I accept it as chairman of the campaign committee. People worked very well and I'd like to thank them. I couldn't win people's trust, but I'd like to congratulate my daughter and all the candidates who won,” Rawat said.

He further added, “For me, the results are very surprising. I cannot understand that after such massive inflation, if this was the public's mandate, what is the definition of public welfare and social justice...? I can't understand people saying 'BJP zindabaad' after this.” (ANI)

#UttarakhandElections2022 | Our efforts were a little less to win over the public of Uttarakhand. We were sure that people will vote for a change, there must've been a shortage in our efforts, I accept it & take responsibility for the defeat: Congress leader Harish Rawat pic.twitter.com/xiG0YuSnCF

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 10, 2022

Congress leader Harish Rawat’s daughter Anupama Rawat on Thursday asserted that the grand old party will continue working for the people of Uttarakhand, no matter what.

#UttarakhandElections2022 | We don't believe in politics of revenge. There needs to be a change, which has been brought by the people of Haridwar Rural. Our workers have worked very hard. We will work for people: Congress's Anupama Rawat, daughter of Congress leader Harish Rawat pic.twitter.com/rvNAE5m32i

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 10, 2022

While the incumbent BJP headed to a remarkable victory in Uttarakhand, bucking the trend of alternate governments in the hill state, 46-year-old party Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was all set to lose his own election from Khatima constituency in Udham Singh Nagar district at the hands of Congress candidate Bhuwan Chandra Kapri.

Considered by many as an “accidental chief minister”, 46-year-old Pushkar Singh Dhami last year replaced Tirath Singh Rawat as the CM after the latter quit ostensibly on being unable to get elected to the state Assembly within the deadline of six months from the date he took over.

Dhami thus became Uttarakhand’s tenth CM and seventh from the BJP. Read more

In a major setback to the grand old party, Congress strongman Harish Rawat lost the election. He conceded the defeat in a tweet posted on his official twitter handle.

#??????? ???????? ??????? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ??????? ????? ?? ???? ??? ??? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ??????????, ????? ??? ?? ??? ??????? ???????? ???, ????? ????? ??? ?? ??? ???? ??????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ?? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ????,
1/2 pic.twitter.com/Ohz0eKff4G

— Harish Rawat (@harishrawatcmuk) March 10, 2022

The massive setback that the Congress has suffered in the Assembly elections in the five states will embolden fellow parties, particularly the Aam Aadmi Party and the Trinamool Congress, to contest the grand old party’s claim and role as the central pole of the Opposition bloc. The humiliating defeats are also set to lead to further bloodletting in the party.

Even before the first vote was cast in the Assembly elections, there were murmurs in the Opposition camp that the Congress is fast losing its ability and claim, both morally and electorally, to lead the anti-BJP bandwagon.

With AAP knocking out the Congress in Punjab and the BJP delivering a body blow to the party in Uttarakhand and Goa, the Congress is staring at an existential crisis. Read more

The ruling BJP is set to return to power in Uttarkhand as it is ahead in 48 seats, eight more than the required majority.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to retain power in Uttarakhand, with its candidates leading in 48 out of 70 assembly seats. The Congress is ahead in 18 seats.

It will be for the first time in the state’s history that a ruling power will be returning to power for a second consecutive term. Read full article

The ruling BJP looked all set to secure a second consecutive term in office in Uttarakhand leading in 44 out of the total 70 seats, according to latest trends.

However, both Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Congress' Harish Rawat who led the campaigns of their respective parties in these assembly polls, were trailing on their respective seats of Khatima and Lalkuan.

While Dhami trails behind Congress's Bhuvan Chandra Kapri in Khatima by 2,287 votes, Harish Rawat was trailing behind BJP's Mohan Singh Bisht by 13,893 votes. It will be clear later in the afternoon on what ultimately happens on these two seats. (PTI)

#UttarakhandElections2022 | We already knew that we'll form the government as PM Modi fulfilled all the promises he made to the people of Uttarakhand & CM Pushkar Singh Dhami too resolved issues of the people in the last 6 months: BJP leader Kailash Vijavargiya in Dehradaun pic.twitter.com/ep8vZQpyCK

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 10, 2022

Reacting to the current trends, BJP leader Kailash Vijavargiya said, "We already knew that we'll form the government as PM Modi fulfilled all the promises he made to the people of Uttarakhand and CM Pushkar Singh Dhami too resolved issues of the people in the last 6 months."

Union minister & Uttarakhand state in-charge Pralhad Joshi in Dehradun said, "Under the leadership of PM Modi and CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, we gave welfare policies to the people of Uttarakhand and have got expected results."

Senior Congress leader and former CM Harish Rawat trailing by over 10,000 votes in Lalkuwa. 

Congress leader Harish Rawat's daughter Anupama Rawat is leading from Haridwar Rural Assembly seat.

#UttarakhandElections2022 | Congress leader Harish Rawat's daughter Anupama Rawat leading from Haridwar Rural Assembly seat pic.twitter.com/kk9OU007dy

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 10, 2022

Click to register and attend the Explained session https://bit.ly/35GN0eK[/caption]

If the current trends, which shows the BJP lead on 44 seats, convert into final results then the party will break the two-decade-old political trend in Uttarakhand and will become the first one in the state to form two consecutive governments. As of now, the Congress is leading on 22 seats while the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Independents each on two seats.

The Election Commission on Thursday lifted the ban on victory processions during the counting of votes and declaration of results in the five states where elections were held recently. In a statement, the poll panel said keeping in mind the current status of Covid-19 in these states, it has 'decided to relax the guidelines on victory processions during and after the counting and has withdrawn the blanket ban on victory procession.' While announcing the poll schedule for Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Goa and Punjab, the Election Commission had issued guidelines to regulate various aspects of elections, including victory processions amid the pandemic.(PTI)

Heading towards a historic victory in Uttarakhand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami Thursday is ahead on 44 seats, eight more than the required majority in the 70-seat assembly.

The current trends in Uttarakhand, as updated by the Election Commission, suggest that the ruling BJP has not only successfully battled the anti-incumbency factor in the hill state but also been able to influence voters on issues like national interest, national security, army welfare, and religious tourism.

BJP comfortably crosses the majority mark, now leads on 44; Congress leads on 22 as official trends for all 70 seats for Uttarakhand Election 2022 come out.

As per the trends updated by the Election Commission, the BJP is leading on 39 seats, which is three more than the majority required. The Congress is leading on 17 seats while BSP and Independents each on 2 seats.

On Haridwar rural seat, Harish Rawat’s daughter Anupama Rawat is behind BJP’s Swami Yatishwaranand by a margin of over 3,000 votes. Daughter-in-law of former minister Harak Singh Rawat, Anukriti Gusain is also trailing behind sitting BJP MLA Daleep Singh Rawat by over 1,000 votes on the Lansdowne seat. Congress candidate Om Gopal, however. has a lead on minister Subodh Unial on Narendranagar seat. Congress state president Ganesh Godiyal is ahead of BJP minister Dhan Singh Rawat by a small margin.

While the Congress appears to be losing the state, former CM and party campaign head in the state, Harish Rawat is trailing on the Lalkuan seat. BJP candidate Mohan Singh Bisht is ahead by over 7,000 votes.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has crossed the halfway mark in Uttarakhand, as it is leading on 47 seats, while the Congress, who is confident of their win in the hilly state is leading only on 17 seats.

BJP's Pushkar Singh Dhami is also trailing from his seat Khatima, as per the Election Commission

Congress leader Harish Rawat is trailing by a margin of 2,713 votes in the Lalkuwa constituency, behind the BJP candidate Mohan Singh Bisht

As per the early trends, the BJP is leading in 39 seats in Uttarakhand. The Congress is leading in 19, while the AAP and BSP are leading in one seat, each. 

The elections to the five states — Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur — had kicked off on February 10, with Punjab and Manipur going to the polls at a later date. While the seven-phase UP polls ended on March 7, the Manipur elections were held in two phases — on February 28 and March 5. Punjab went to the polls on February 20, whereas the election in Uttarakhand and Goa were conducted on February 14.

As per the early trends, the BJP is leading in 30 seats in Uttarakhand. The Congress is leading in 22, while AAP is leading in one seat. Stay tuned to get all the latest updates from Uttarakhand.

What is happening in other states?

In Goa, the BJP leading in 14 seats, Congress in 17. In Punjab, the Congress trails the Aam Aadmi Party with the former leading in 9 seats as opposed to AAP’s 17. IN Uttar Pradesh, BJP leads in 69 seats, SP in 30. In Manipur, early numbers show the BJP leading in four seats and Congress in three seats, others- one seat.

Early trends -- mainly postal votes -- show BJP losing a number of seats that it won in 2017 in UP and Uttarakhand (where it had 3/4 of the total seats), gaining a few seats in Punjab, Manipur and Goa.

Early trends -mainly postal votes - show BJP losing a number of seats that it won in 2017 in UP & Uttarakhand (where it had 3/4 of the total seats), gaining a few seats in Punjab, Manipur and Goa. Watch https://t.co/CvuUZotcpf for live updates

— Liz Mathew (@MathewLiz) March 10, 2022

As per early trends at 9:01 am, BJP is leading in 12 seats, Congress and AAP are leading in one seat each.

As per the early trends, Congress and the BJP are in a tough fight as both are leading on 8 seats right now. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which entered Uttarakhand politics for the first time this election, is also leading on one seat.