DEHRADUN/NEW DELHI: In a major setback to Congress in Uttarakhand a day after announcement of ballot dates, its three-time MLA from Badrinath, Rajendra Singh Bhandari, joined BJP on Sunday. Bhandari’s transfer marks the second high-profile departure of a senior Congress chief after Manish Khanduri, son of former CM Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri, who resigned every week in the past and moved to the saffron fold.
Bhandari instructed reporters, “I’m very a lot impressed with PM Modi’s insurance policies for the welfare of the poor.Below his management, a steady journey of improvement is occurring throughout the nation. I wish to contribute to creating India a developed nation by 2047, a aim set by PM Modi.”
His resignation is seen as a serious setback to the Congress candidate for the Pauri Garhwal Lok Sabha seat, Ganesh Godiyal, pitted in opposition to BJP’s Anil Baluni who was additionally current when Bhandari joined the saffron social gathering.
Bhandari’s swap is critical as he holds sway in Chamoli district — his spouse Rajni Bhandari was the chairman of Chamoli zila panchayat — and was the only incumbent Congress MLA among the many 14 meeting segments falling below the Pauri Garhwal parliamentary constituency, leaving Congress with none legislator within the space. Since Chamoli types a considerable a part of the Pauri Garhwal constituency, Bhandari’s swap is being seen as a serious electoral acquire for BJP.
Notably, Bhandari had defeated Mahendra Bhatt, the present BJP state president, within the 2022 meeting elections from Badrinath. He had earlier served as minister within the cupboards of Harish Rawat and B C Khanduri.
Congress in Uttarakhand has been witnessing a slew of defections previously few weeks. On Sunday, Dhan Singh Negi, a former Congress MLA from Tehri, additionally resigned from the social gathering. Negi had joined Congress forward of the state polls in 2022 after being denied an meeting ticket by BJP.
On Friday, Vijaypal Sajwan, the previous Congress MLA from Gangotri, tendered his resignation from the first membership of the Congress social gathering. The next day, Anukriti Gusain, the daughter-in-law of senior Congress chief Harak Singh Rawat, had additionally resigned from the social gathering.
Polling of all 5 Lok Sabha seats in Uttarakhand will probably be held on April 19 within the first section of Lok Sabha elections.
Bhandari instructed reporters, “I’m very a lot impressed with PM Modi’s insurance policies for the welfare of the poor.Below his management, a steady journey of improvement is occurring throughout the nation. I wish to contribute to creating India a developed nation by 2047, a aim set by PM Modi.”
His resignation is seen as a serious setback to the Congress candidate for the Pauri Garhwal Lok Sabha seat, Ganesh Godiyal, pitted in opposition to BJP’s Anil Baluni who was additionally current when Bhandari joined the saffron social gathering.
Bhandari’s swap is critical as he holds sway in Chamoli district — his spouse Rajni Bhandari was the chairman of Chamoli zila panchayat — and was the only incumbent Congress MLA among the many 14 meeting segments falling below the Pauri Garhwal parliamentary constituency, leaving Congress with none legislator within the space. Since Chamoli types a considerable a part of the Pauri Garhwal constituency, Bhandari’s swap is being seen as a serious electoral acquire for BJP.
Notably, Bhandari had defeated Mahendra Bhatt, the present BJP state president, within the 2022 meeting elections from Badrinath. He had earlier served as minister within the cupboards of Harish Rawat and B C Khanduri.
Congress in Uttarakhand has been witnessing a slew of defections previously few weeks. On Sunday, Dhan Singh Negi, a former Congress MLA from Tehri, additionally resigned from the social gathering. Negi had joined Congress forward of the state polls in 2022 after being denied an meeting ticket by BJP.
On Friday, Vijaypal Sajwan, the previous Congress MLA from Gangotri, tendered his resignation from the first membership of the Congress social gathering. The next day, Anukriti Gusain, the daughter-in-law of senior Congress chief Harak Singh Rawat, had additionally resigned from the social gathering.
Polling of all 5 Lok Sabha seats in Uttarakhand will probably be held on April 19 within the first section of Lok Sabha elections.
