Dehradun: Even as the BJP captured 10 mayoral posts of the state’s 11 municipal corporations in the recently concluded Urban Local Bodies’ Elections, the party apparently could not perform on the expected lines in the hill areas.
While the BJP fielded its candidates for 51 posts of the chairman of the Nagar Panchayat and Municipalities in the hill districts-Almora, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Pauri Garhwal, Pithoragarh, Rudraprayag, Tehri Garhwal and Uttarkashi, the party candidates emerged winner for only 19 such posts. The BJP’s performance in the hill areas in the ULB polls is a cause of concern for the party’s top leaders in the state.
BJP performed well in Champawat district
The party had deployed its prominent leaders, including ministers and its functionaries, in different hill districts to woo voters in the ULB polls. Champawat is one among the hill districts where BJP has captured all the 4 Municipalities and Nagar Panchayats. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami currently represents Champawat seat in the state assembly. Similarly, the party has maintained its political dominance in the hill district of Tehri Garhwal by winning 7 posts (out of the total 10) of the Chairman of Municipalities and Nagar Panchayats.
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Pauri Garhwal disappointed the BJP in ULB polls
However, the results of the seven local bodies, including two Municipal Corporations, two municipalities, three Nagar Panchayats, of the Pauri Garhwal district have also disappointed the ruling BJP. The BJP candidate could only win the mayoral post of the Kotdwar municipal corporations. While the BJP’s main political rival captured all the three posts of the chairman of Nagar Panchayats, the independent candidates emerged winners for the post of chairman of the three municipalities. Although Srinagar is a newly formed municipal corporation, an independent candidate won for its mayoral post.
No good new for the BJP from Pithoragarh
The hill district Pithoragarh, which shares international boundaries, has also not brought the good news for the BJP in the ULB polls. This district has six local bodies, including one Municipal Corporations, four municipalities and one Nagar Panchayat. The BJP candidates secured victory for the mayoral post of Pithoragarh municipal corporation and chairman of the Gangolihat municipalities. The Congress has performed well in this district by winning the post of the three municipalities.
Chamoli has a message for the BJP
BJP has reasons to worry for its support-base in Chamoli district in which Badrinath shrine is situated. Chamoli has 10 local bodies, including four municipalities and six Nagar Panchayats. The BJP could emerge victorious for only two posts of the chairman of the Gopeshwar and Karnaprayag municipalities.
The BJP candidate has faced defeat for the post of the chairman of Gairsain Nagar Panchayat. Congress has won the post of the chairman of the Gairsain Nagar Panchayat. In June 2020, the then BJP government had declared Gairsain as the summer capital of the state. The good show put up by the rival Congress in this district is set to politically trouble the ruling BJP in future. The Congress candidates have emerged victorious for the post of chairman of 6 municipalities/ Nagar Panchayats in Chamoli district.
