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BJP avoids naming chief ministerial face as Congress prepares to target ruling establishment.
As the elections draw closer, Uttarakhand’s electoral politics is becoming increasingly interesting. Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s speech did not mention who the party’s face would be. Shah patted the backs of all the leaders, including Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, and listed the achievements of former Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat’s tenure of ten years before returning to Delhi.
The message was clear: if the election is won, anyone could become the Chief Minister.
On the other hand, Congress is also slowly revealing its cards. The party does not seem to be naming anyone as its face yet. Secondly, Congress is working on two issues: the Ankita Bhandari murder case and land scams in Uttarakhand, which it intends to make major election issues. Both issues concern the people of the hills.
There are even reports that Congress may field Ankita’s mother, Soni Devi, from a seat in Pauri district, making a major bet on women voters. The Ankita Bhandari murder case is an issue that could weigh heavily on the BJP.
With Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi openly supporting Ankita’s parents, speculation has gained strength that Congress may give a ticket to Ankita’s mother. If Congress properly raises Ankita’s case, the issue of corruption and scams could also work in its favour.
Whatever achievements Union Home Minister Amit Shah may have listed in his speech, Ankita’s case is unlikely to be put to rest. Shah also mentioned illegal madrasas, graveyards and the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in his speech.
Uttarakhand’s Muslim population is very small, but it is enough to sharpen the Hindutva issue. Chief Minister Dhami has also been linking every case to jihad.
Congress realises that the BJP will seek to polarise the election. If Ankita’s mother agrees to contest, the Hindutva issue could be weakened. Congress has completely distanced itself from Muslim issues such as that involving Mohammad Deepak.
Furthermore, National President Mallikarjun Kharge’s Dalit issue has been put on hold. Ankita and corruption are two issues that could bring Congress to power.
However, if the BJP’s central leadership changes several faces just before the elections, Congress’s difficulties will increase.