Congress is preparing to fight with full force in the Bageshwar assembly by-election. The electoral strategy and list of issues are being sharpened in such a way that the ruling party BJP can be given a tough fight. If there is success in this by-election before the Lok Sabha elections and civic elections, then it will send a strong message in favor of the Congress in the entire state.
The main opposition party may declare its candidate on 13 or 14 August to start preparations for the election on time. Congress is facing defeat continuously since 2017. The party is scrambling to regain its lost base in Uttarakhand. Since the assembly elections held in the month of February in the year 2022, so far one by-election has been held.
Last year, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami himself was a candidate from Champawat seat. The Chief Minister had won this by-election with a huge margin. Chandan Ramdas won by a margin of 12141 votes in the year 2022. Now the Bageshwar reserved seat has become vacant after the death of cabinet minister Chandan Ramdas. The Election Commission has announced the dates of elections and election results. Chandan Ramdas was elected MLA from this seat for the fourth consecutive time till the year 2022 after the year 2007.
Congress siege on BJP’s stronghold
The Congress is now eyeing this seat, which has been in the BJP’s account for a long time. Chandan Ramdas got 32,211 votes in the 2022 assembly elections, while his nearest rival Congress candidate Ranjit Das got 20017 votes. Chandan Ramdas won by a margin of 12141 votes.
Expectations from anti-incumbency factor
Congress is hopeful that the anti-incumbency factor will bring color in Dhami government’s tenure of more than one year. Recruitment scam, Agneepath Yojana, murder of female employee of Vanantara Resort will give benefit of anti-incumbency.
This is the reason why the party is working hard for this by-election. Congress is trying to field a strong candidate. The party had formed a committee for candidate selection. This committee has submitted its report to the Pradesh Congress Committee. Panel of three names sent to the party leadership The panel of three names recommended by the committee has now reached the party high command through the State Congress Committee.
State Congress President Karan Mahara confirmed this. He said that the candidate will be declared in two-three days. Efforts are being made that the party candidate is announced unanimously, so that the party can contest elections with unity and strength. State Congress President Karan Mahara said that scams are happening in the recruitments in the state. The youth is struggling with unemployment and inflation. People are gazing towards Congress.
