Advani’s rallies have failed to enthuse party men

Dehradun
BOTH major political parties, ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress, started their election campaign for the forthcoming Assembly elections through high-pitched rallies this month. While, the Congress through laying of the foundation stone of the Rishikesh-Karanprayag railway line at Gauchar in the Garhwal Himalayas tried to woo voters on November 9, the ruling BJP tried to mobilise public opinion through the “Jan Chetna Yatra” of veteran BJP leader Lal Krishan Advani from November 17 to 19.
State Congress leaders, particularly Pauri Garhwal MP Satpal Maharaj taking the credit of getting the vital railway project in the Garhwal Himalayas, wanted to use the function of laying of the foundation stone of the project for a massive show of strength to kickstart the party’s election campaign in Garhwal.
A large number of people from the entire Garhwal region were mobilised for the rally to be addressed on the occasion by Congress president Sonia Gandhi. However, the general public as well as the state Congress leaders were disappointed as Sonia Gandhi failed to keep date with Uttarakhand due to health reasons.
But still, the Congress managed to portray the railway project as a major developmental project for seeking votes much to the chagrin of the ruling BJP. There was a lot of mudsling, accusations and counter-accusations between the leaders of both parties on the issue.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister BC Khanduri took exception to Sonia Gandhi laying the foundation stone of a national project and complained to the Prime Minister for not being invited for the programme. On the other hand, the Congress leaders said the Chief Minister was invited by the Union Railway Ministry, but he decided to skip the function citing prior engagements in connection with the foundation day celebrations of the state on November 9.
There were claims and counter-claims about getting the project sanctioned. The BJP leaders were visibly shaken due to the political mileage that the Congress was likely to get for the railway project. On completion, it will change the socio-economic situation of the Garhwal region.
The ruling BJP leaders started preparing for the “Jan Chetna Yatra” of LK Advani on the issue of corruption and bringing back black money stashed in foreign banks. But the three-day yatra by the senior most BJP leader of the country failed to enthuse BJP cadres in the state. It seemed that the party leaders did not plan the visit of Advani well.
The timings of the rallies to be addressed by Advani at Dehradun and Haldwani, the two major cities of the Garhwal and Kumoan regions, were ill-timed. Entering from Himachal Pradesh late in the evening, Advani could reach Dehradun after 7.30 pm and his address went beyond 8.30 pm. There were only a few thousand people listening to him as most of the chairs were empty.

The next rally at Haridwar held the next morning also witnessed not more than 7,000 people. His address at a rally held at Haldwani town the next day could start at 9.15 pm. The party planners failed to take into consideration the cold weather conditions and planned his rallies late in the evenings. According to party insiders, the feud between Chief Minister Khanduri and former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank was also evident during these rallies. The lacklustre response of the people of the state to the senior most BJP leader must be a cause for worry for the party leadership in the state that has to face the electorates in February. Many believe that people already annoyed with rampant corruption at all levels in Uttarakhand were not keen to listen to the sermonsing by senior BJP leader leaders.

BJP banks on Lokayukta Act

The Lokayukta Bill passed by the Uttarakhand Assembly has generated a lot of heat. The Bill brought by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Khanduri was inspired by Team Anna which also helped the state government to draft the Bill. Khanduri in a hurry got the Bill passed in a day. Interestingly, the opposition Congress and other political parties supported the Bill which was passed unanimously. But the civil society and intellectuals found holes in the Bill. They argued that the mandatory unanimity amongst members of the Lokayukta before taking action against any senior bureaucrats and politicians was not practical. They argued that it should have been by a majority vote rather than by unanimity. There were many more issues that infringed upon the Central laws as per experts. But the BJP which has been embroiled in many controversies and charges of corruption in the past four years now under the leadership of Khanduri wanted to portray the Bill as a political weapon to win the Assembly elections.

Congress legislators argue that they supported the Bill in the Assembly as they did not want to fall in the trap laid by Khanduri by opposing the Bill and being labeled as standing against any anti-corruption law.

Now the association of IAS officers has also come out open with their reservations about the Bill. Many believe that the Jan Lokpal Bill being introduced in Parliament by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government will also have provision for model Lokayuktas in the state.

However, the state BJP leadership firmly believe that the steps taken by Chief Minister Khanduri, including getting the Lokayukta Bill passed, will help them reap benefits in the forthcoming Assembly poll.