Vajpayee brought him in active politics and Modi showed him the door say people in Uttarakhand

The polling in Uttarakhand is on 11th April thereby giving relief to the voters of the five parliamentary constituencies to cast their votes according to their free will n choose candidates of their choice.

We’ve been touring various parts of Uttarakhand, especially Garhwal parliamentary constituencies of Pauri n Tehri.

While both the Congress candidates viz Congress’s Manish Khanduri and Pritam Singh are giving tough fight n struggling hard to win the lost battle the Modi undercurrent seems to be more dominant in Garhwal than in Kumaon hills.

However, the fact remains that the sitting MP and the unceremoniously ousted from the chairmanship of Parliament’s Defence Committee , former minister Major General Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri who’s son is contesting from the rival party’s ticket has been completely sidelined by the BJP high command.

Veteran BJP leader B. C. Khanduri was not found in any BJP poster or hoardings in Garhwal parliamentary constituency nor asked to campaign in support of the BJP candidate Tirath Singh Rawat or other candidates, despite the fact that the former had unambiguously committed to stand by the saffron party n campaign even against his son if asked for.

He was not even added in the list of star campaigners of the BJP as veteran leadern ex MP from Kumaon Bhagat Singh Koshiyari was included in the very first instance.

The people of Garhwal say that Khanduri should have resigned from the party and openly come out in support of his son Manish who is the Congress candidate from Pauri Garhwal.

Their logic is – after such a serious insult of being ousted from the Defence committee of Parliament and thereafter not caring for him, there is no point that the former Major General should stay in the saffron party.

His son Manish Khanduri has been castigating the BJP’s central and state leadership for turning down all the schemes of his father when he was the state CM twice right from Lok Pal to various other important decisions n pro people policies.

Manish accuses the BJP leadership in every public meeting saying that : his father wept only for two times during his life, one when his sister Ritu Khanduri, (now BJP MLA from Yamkeshwar) was married n departed to her in laws’ place and another when he was badly insulted n unceremoniously ousted from the Defence Committee of Parliament for no fault of his but because his father allegedly, transparently highlighted the inefficiencies in the defence sector.

It was a shameful insult to not only an 87 year retired Major General, former union minister and a five time MP but also to a vetran public servant with impeccable integrity.

Time change in politics. One day you are a king and as time passes you may be of nowhere.

The same has happened with the 87 year old veteran politician n ex Major General Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri, who was so respected and adored by late prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It was on Vajpayee’s insistence only that not only was he all of a sudden brought into active politics in 1990 but was later on made five term MP, a union minister for Road and Surface transport and also two time chief minister of the himalayan state.

A non political ex Major General Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri primarily hailed from a political family with his maternal Uncle late Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna having been a political stalwart holding good number of central ministries from time to time and a most successful chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

It was only because of Khanduri’s being the nephew of late Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna that Major General ( R) BC Khanduri was brought into active politics of Uttarakhand by Atal Bihari Vajpayee to counter Bahuguna family’s increasing political influence n credibility in Garhwal, Uttarakhand.

Today Khanduri’s journalist turned politician son is fighting from Pauri Garhwal seat against all odds, having been a late comer compared to the BJP’s Tirath Singh Rawat. Major General Khanduri while wishing good luck to his highly qualified America returned journalist cum techy son Manish says that it’s his own decision to pursue the ideology n political party of his choice. He is a well read, highly educated and fully grown up responsible person, hence there is no point influencing his decision n choice. Khanduri says as a father his wishes are always with Manish.

However, the people in Uttarakhand say that while Vajpayee as PM brought Major General Khanduri in active politics, it’s Modi Shah suo who’d showed him the door.

What’s your take friends?