Uphill State

|
  • 0

Uphill State

Monday, 14 February 2022 | Pioneer

Uphill State

Uttarakhand votes today; who among the BJP, Congress and AAP will make it to the top?

As Uttarakhand goes to Assembly election today, the voters are faced with Hobson’s choice. Traditionally, the hill State witnesses a direct fight between the Congress and the BJP, cornering nearly a third of total votes each and governing alternately. This has been the case in three of the four Assembly elections in Uttarakhand since its formation but this time the AAP is also in the fray on all the 70 seats. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s election-eve promise of a Uniform Civil Code is aimed at differentiating himself from his two predecessors and the legacy of anti-incumbency but scams, mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic, damaging environmental policies, rampant profiteering in land and, most of all, three Chief Ministers in four months can dent the BJP’s prospects. Hence the Congress slogan, ‘Teen tigada kaam bigada, Uttarakhand mein nahi aayegi Bhajpa dobara’. The BJP leaders have warned the electorate against the Congress’s “appeasement policy” even as the latter is banking on strong anti-incumbency and the consequent negative voting to regain power. The Congress has the edge but it is caught up in self-destructive factional feuds. Widespread disgust over ego clashes in the Congress matches voters’ exasperation with the BJP’s shenanigans.

Despite infighting, the Congress appears marginally better placed in Kumaon (20 seats). Several districts here recently suffered devastating floods and landslides. Other than land law and migration, the grievances here are of the bijli-sadak-paani variety. The Terai plains (20 seats) are also inclined towards the Congress. Meanwhile, the AAP is seeking votes by accusing Congress and BJP Governments of not fulfilling the aspirations of people. It has also offered a slew of freebies, including free electricity up to 300 units to every household, Rs 1,000 per month to every woman above 18 years, jobs to every household and an unemployment allowance of Rs 5,000 per month. Uttarakhand, blessed with natural resources, high literacy and a locational advantage, has been bogged down by politics and corruption since inception. A State that, with snow-fed glaciers, 17 rivers and 31 lakes, provides water to the National Capital Region itself suffers severe water shortages. The BJP’s much-touted “double-engine” Government has failed to deliver but the Congress doesn’t hold out much hope either.

Sunday Edition

CAA PASSPORT TO FREEDOM

24 March 2024 | Kumar Chellappan | Agenda

CHENNAI EXPRESS IN GURUGRAM

24 March 2024 | Pawan Soni | Agenda

The Way of Bengal

24 March 2024 | Shobori Ganguli | Agenda

The Pizza Philosopher

24 March 2024 | Shobori Ganguli | Agenda

Astroturf | Lord Shiva calls for all-inclusiveness

24 March 2024 | Bharat Bhushan Padmadeo | Agenda

Interconnected narrative l Forest conservation l Agriculture l Food security

24 March 2024 | BKP Sinha/ Arvind K jha | Agenda