Thirty six applicants from BJP for 5 parliamentary seats of Uttarakhand

The ruling Bhartiya Janata Party in Uttarakhand has submitted a list of about thirty six applicants who’d applied for tickets on party symbol from different parliamentary constituencies of Uttarakhand.

However, the saffron party has suffered a little setback after the son of Major general retired Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri present MP from Pauri Garhwal Constituency has announced his decision to join the Congress party. Khanduri’s daughter is already the MLA of BJP in Yamkeshwar Legislative Assembly.

It is learnt that after Khanduri’s inability to contest from Pauri Garhwal constituency due to his abnormal health n over age his son’s request to contest from his father’s parliamentary seat has not been fulfilled by the BJP high command from where the name of NSA’s son Shourya Dobhal n retited Rear Admiral OPS Rana of Gopeshwar is being discussed.

Not only this but the entire Khanduri family, especially his son Manish are disenchanted and furious with the BJP leadership over his father’s arbitrary expulsion/ termination/ dismissal from the pivotal n significant position of chairmanship of Defence ministry’s Parliamentary Consultative Committee. Sounds ridiculous n shocking as well that when Rafale and other matters pertaining to the defence are in controversy a retired major general, former CM, union minister and five time MP who’s 78 years old heading the parliament’s reputed defence committee is shunted out without assigning any reason.

Khanduri’s son is likely join Congress on 16th in the presence of the Congress chief Rahul Gandhi who would addressed a massive public meeting at Dehradun, the preparation for which are being made for the last several days.

Uttarakhand has five parliamentary constitiencies viz Pauri, Tehri Garhwal, Almora, Haridwar n Nainital. Currently all the five parliamentary constituencies are being represented by BJP MPs.

Major general Bhuvan Chand Khanduri represents Pauri Garhwal while Maharani Lakshmi represents Tehri. Bhagat Singh Koshiyari is the MP from Nainital while union state minister Ajay Tamta represents Almora.

The former chief minister Uttarakhand Dr. Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank represents Haridwar. Bhagat Singh Koshiyari and B. C Khanduri have crossed 75 years of age but the BJP has cleared the earlier ban on over age limit paving the way for the contest.

Therefore there isn’t any bar for Major genl Khanduri n B. C Koshiyari. Sources reveal that except Major General Bhuvan Chand Khanduri who is 78 and not in good health the saffron party may repeat in all seats of Uttarakhand.

However, it’s surprising to note that a state cabinet minister Rekha Arya has strongly applied for the BJP ticket from the reserve Almora constituency, the seat of union minister Ajay Tamata.

A meeting of Uttarakhand Parliamentary Committee was held at Dehradun on 14th March in the pivotal presence of union minister n election incharge n observer Thavar Chand Gehlot, attended by all the current MPs of BJP from Uttarakhand, the state CM Trivendra Singh Rawat, state party chief Ajay Bhatt, previous president Chufal, MLAs n party office bearers.

The list would be submitted to the central high command to be disscussed in the meeting being held in New Delhi on 16th to be attended by prime minister Narendra Modi, party chief, union ministers n the party’s selection committee.

It is believed that the names of about 100 candidates of the BJP will be announced on 16th March in New Delhi.

It may be recalled that Major general Khanduri’s son Manish Khanduri is a senior journalist having worked in prestigious economic magazines Business Standard , Business World. He also served in CNN’s digital department in senior position n had been in Facebook India as News Partnership head. He is the graduate of Chichago’s Kellog School of management.

Meanwhile according to the latest report the Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and state party chief Ajay Bhatt today met the pauri MP n former CM Major General Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri at his Delhi residence and tried to cajole him requesting to ask his son not to join Congress on 16th March in Congress rally at Dehradun to be addressed by Rahul Gandhi.

It is believed that Manish Khanduri may get the Pauri ticket in case he joins Congress. Both Rawat n Bhatt were closetted with Khanduri an hour or so. But it’s believed that adamant Manish has finally make up his mind to join Congress.