Congress Accuses BJP of Relying on Turncoats in Uttarakhand Cabinet Formation
In Dehradun, following the oath-taking ceremony for new ministers in the Dhami government on Friday, the Opposition Congress has launched a sharp critique, asserting that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has shown a clear preference for legislators with roots in the Congress party. According to Congress state chief spokesperson Garima Dasauni, this trend highlights a significant reliance on turncoats within the BJP's ministerial ranks.
Details of Ministers with Congress Background
Dasauni pointed out that among the five newly inducted ministers, three—Pradeep Batra, Bharat Singh Chaudhary, and Ram Singh Kaira—have a history of association with the Congress. Expanding on this, she noted that out of the total eleven ministers in the cabinet, seven have backgrounds linked to the Congress party. This includes previous ministers such as Satpal Maharaj, Rekha Arya, and Subodh Uniyal, who either won elections on Congress tickets or were members of the party. Additionally, Saurabh Bahuguna, though starting his political journey with the BJP, is the son of former Congress leader Vijay Bahuguna, further reinforcing the Congress connection.
Political Trajectories of Key Ministers
Delving into the political paths of these ministers, Dasauni provided specific examples:
- Bharat Singh Chaudhary: In 2002, he contested from the Karnprayag constituency on a Congress ticket, finishing third. He later ran from Rudraprayag on an NCP ticket in 2007 and as an Independent in 2012 before joining the BJP. He has since won from Rudraprayag on BJP tickets in 2017 and 2022.
- Pradeep Batra: He secured a victory on a Congress ticket in 2012 and was among the ten legislators who defected to the BJP in 2016. He subsequently won in 2017 and 2022 as a BJP nominee.
- Ram Singh Kaira: In 2012, he contested unsuccessfully from Bhimtal on a Congress ticket. He won as an Independent in 2017 and emerged victorious from Bhimtal as a BJP candidate in 2022.
Congress's Interpretation of BJP's Strategy
Dasauni emphasized that this pattern suggests a lack of faith within the BJP in their own senior leaders, leading them to favor turncoats. "It looks like BJP does not have faith in their seniors, and so, giving preference to turncoats," she stated, underscoring the party's criticism of the BJP's approach to cabinet formation. This allegation adds a layer of political intrigue to the ongoing dynamics in Uttarakhand, where defections and party switches have been notable in recent years.
