PM Modi’s final call will shape BJP’s electoral approach as it weighs alliances and new candidates.
The BJP is not yet revealing its hand regarding the election strategies for Punjab and Uttarakhand. Sources indicate that the party is keeping a close watch on the Congress’s electoral moves. Reports suggest that some Congress leaders from both states could defect to the BJP. In Punjab, the BJP plans to contest the elections in alliance with the Akalis and smaller parties. Sources state that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the face of the campaign in both states, following the strategy used in Bihar and Bengal. The BJP intends to play the role of the ‘big brother’ by contesting the highest number of seats in Punjab. The party’s strategy for Punjab is largely finalised, pending a final decision from PM Modi. As for Uttarakhand, the BJP remains tight-lipped. However, party leader Nitin Nabin is visiting the state; amidst the ‘purification’ controversy, he is scheduled to visit Haldwani for two days starting September 9 to gather feedback through a series of meetings. The BJP has been in power in Uttarakhand for ten years, making anti-incumbency a significant challenge.
As a small hill state, it faces unique difficulties, and the BJP high command is well aware of these issues; consequently, they are actively seeking a way to navigate them. Sources indicate that the BJP and the Sangh are evaluating pracharaks (full-time workers) currently serving in education-related organisations and institutions. Vidya Bharati—the Sangh’s educational wing—operates over 650 educational institutions in Uttarakhand under the banners of Saraswati Vidya Mandir and Saraswati Shishu Mandir. Notably, Bhagat Singh Koshyari and Ramesh Pokhriyal— both now retired—entered politics from these very institutions. Sources suggest that the party plans to mitigate anti-incumbency by fielding some figures from these institutions in the upcoming elections, thereby denying tickets to certain incumbent ministers and MLAs. Intensive deliberations are underway within both the party and the Sangh, which explains why the appointments of the General Secretary (In-charge) and the Organisation Secretary have not yet been announced. Previously, Dushyant Gautam and Ajay Kumar held these responsibilities; however, Ajay Kumar was transferred to Rajasthan, while Dushyant was relieved of his organisational duties. Since the removal of these two leaders, the intensity surrounding the Ankita Bhandari murder case has somewhat subsided.
Although the issue remains on the Congress party’s agenda, the central leadership’s political manoeuvring has undermined the party’s position in the state. For one, the Congress high command has failed to curb factionalism; leaders show little fear of the high command and are pursuing their own political agendas. Former Chief Minister Harish Rawat—who is not receiving much attention from Rahul Gandhi— has begun efforts to align himself with Priyanka Gandhi, while State President Ganesh Godiyal is holding the fort virtually on his own. In-charge Shailja is also struggling to manage the situation. Crucially, Dalit politics has further deepened the party’s crisis; in an effort to please her leaders Rahul Gandhi and President Kharge, Shailja is actively amplifying Dalitcentric politics. There are even reports that she is pushing to project Yashpal Arya— the Leader of the Legislature Party and a member of the Dalit community—as the Chief Ministerial candidate, despite Uttarakhand being a state with a dominant uppercaste population. This stance taken by Shailja has driven several leaders from the Kumaon and Garhwal regions to establish contact with the BJP. If the Congress high command persists with this political strategy, the BJP is ready to welcome those defecting from the Congress. The BJP is encouraged by the Congress’s focus on Dalit politics and is simultaneously scouting for faces that could emerge as winning candidates.
