The political landscape in Uttarakhand is heating up as preparations for the civic body polls, scheduled for January 23, gain momentum. The elections will cover 11 municipal corporations, 43 municipal councils, and 46 nagar panchayats.
The ruling BJP and the opposition Congress are gearing up for another electoral showdown.
Key defections shake Uttarakhand Congress
The Uttarakhand Congress recently faced a major blow when its Vice President (Organisation), Mathura Dutt Joshi, left the party to join the BJP. Along with him, two other Congress leaders, former Minister of State Bittu Karnatak and ex-Pithoragarh Nagar Palika Parishad chairman Jagat Singh Khati, also switched sides.
Mathura Dutt Joshi, a Congress veteran since 1978, cited dissatisfaction with the party for denying his wife, Rukhmani, a ticket for the mayoral elections in Pithoragarh. Joshi, previously close to senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Harish Rawat, expressed frustration with the party's internal politics.
Despite these defections, the Congress has put on a brave face. Senior leaders like Harish Rawat, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Chief Karan Mahra, and Leader of the Opposition Yashpal Arya will lead the party’s campaign for the Uttarakhand civic body polls, supported by other prominent figures like Ganesh Godiyal and Pritam Singh.
Also Read: U'khand police ordered to track funding of illegal madrassas
Challenges for the Congress
The past year has been turbulent for the Uttarakhand Congress. The party was defeated in all five seats during the Lok Sabha polls in April-June 2024. However, it regained some ground by winning two Assembly bypolls in Badrinath and Manglaur in July.
The Badrinath seat, vacated by a Congress MLA who joined the BJP, was reclaimed by Congress. In Manglaur, the party edged out the BJP by a narrow margin.
Yet, in the Kedarnath bypolls held in November, the BJP defeated the Congress by 5,622 votes, with the Congress attributing the loss to vote-splitting by an Independent candidate. The party’s vote share dropped to 32.83 per cent in the Lok Sabha elections, down from 38 per cent in the 2022 Assembly elections.
Defections won’t impact the polls: Congress
State Congress spokesperson Garima Dasauni dismissed concerns about the impact of defections on the party’s performance in the civic body polls.
“These polls are delayed by a year, and people are frustrated with the BJP’s governance. Leaders who lack loyalty are leaving us, but this will only strengthen our resolve,” she said.
Dasauni also criticised Mathura Dutt Joshi, claiming his leadership coincided with a decline in the party’s performance.
BJP confident ahead of civic body polls
In contrast, the BJP appears optimistic about its chances in the upcoming polls. State BJP chief Mahendra Bhatt expressed confidence that the party would sweep all 11 mayoral seats and dominate in municipal councils and nagar panchayats.
The BJP is highlighting its recent policy moves, including the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code and stricter land purchase laws, as key achievements.
Currently, the BJP’s ranks include several former Congress leaders, such as Subodh Uniyal, Saurabh Bahuguna, Satpal Maharaj, and Rekha Arya, all of whom now serve as ministers in the Pushkar Singh Dhami Cabinet.
Outlook for the Uttarakhand civic body polls
The Uttarakhand civic body polls will be a critical test for the Congress as it tries to rebuild after a series of setbacks. Meanwhile, the BJP aims to consolidate its position by capitalising on defections and its governance agenda.
The results will not only shape local governance but also set the tone for future political battles in the state.
Also Read: U'khand police set up control rooms for Nat'l games 2025
Follow us
