Pressure politics and internal squabbles are preventing the State unit of the Congress party to release its list of candidates for the posts of the district Panchayat presidents and block Pramukhs. After marathon deliberations, the party, however, declared Shrishta Rana as its candidate for the post of Mayor of Roorkee Municipal Corporation.
The senior leaders of the state unit of the Congress party including the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president, Pritam Singh and leader of opposition in Uttarakhand assembly Indira Hridayesh remained huddled at the headquarters of the state unit of the party for second consecutive day on Thursday but the official list for the district Panchayat presidents and block Pramukhs could not be released till the time of filing this report.
Considering the results of the first phase of the elections, the principal opposition party is focusing on the coveted posts of district Panchayat presidents in Chamoli, Pauri, Rudraprayag, Almora and Nainital districts.
The party believes that with the help of the independent candidates having a Congress party leaning, it is in good positions in these districts. Former Cabinet Minister Rajendra Bhandari is said to be keen to field his wife for the post of district Panchayat president in Chamoli. However, he is facing stiff opposition from a group of district Panchayat members who are planning to make someone from the Pinder valley as the official candidate of the party.
A similar situation prevails in other districts as well. It is learnt that many Congress leaders are threatening to leave the party or support BJP candidate if the candidate of their choice is not declared by the party.
Later in the day, the PCC president appointed the state general secretary, organisation, Vijay Saraswat as observer for Almora district and directed him to submit his report on candidate selection for the post of district Panchayat president to the PCC president after holding discussion with party leaders of district. Saraswat is expected to submit his report on Friday.
