A cursory glance at Pratap Nagar assembly constituency, a part of Tehri Garhwal district in Uttarakhand.
Pratap Nagar legislative constituency falls under Tehra Garhwal parliamentary constituency with BJP’s Maharani Mala Rajya Lakshmi Shah its sitting MP. The other legislative constituencies are Tehri, Ghanshyali, Devprayag, Dhanaulty and Narendra Nagar. Most part of Pratap Nagar constituency is badly affected by Tehri Dam Project.
There were two types of people who are affected here after the Tehri Dam socially, economically n politically as well.
One whose land or villages had been submerged in Tehri Dam water body termed as Rehabilities and others, those who were forced to be isolated because of Tehri dam water body from the main land.
Rehabilities have been duly compensated in terms of money as well as alternate land in plains near Rishikesh and Dehradun paying them rich dividends thereafter as well, but the life of others became hell as the cost of leaving their decades old villages increased manifold and were degraded, socially.
Moreover, now, since the two main national parties i.e.Congress and BJP have nominated candidates from the rehabilities ( catagory) who according to the majority people, have no emotional connection with these areas they left.
But since some among them were in Dehradun, economically strong and fully equipped with dexterity n manipulative tactics to manage the ticket they did so and got elected to assembly. Locals traditionally vote in majority either for Congress or BJP, alternatively as the usual trend goes in Uttarakhand.
However, there is a general feeling that in the 2022 assembly elections, the locals are getting more n more restive and vocal seeming to favor only that party who puts up local candidates even prepared to form a morcha for a single independent candidate, in case not obliged by either of the national party.
The present lawmaker from Pratap Nagar legislative Vijay Singh Panwar of BJP is not as popular a candidate as he used to be earlier, with strong anti incumbency factor adversely affecting him. A two term lawmaker being considered to be an outsider n anti incumbency affecting his chances adversely, he seems to be losing this time with huge margin predict the local BJP workers in private talks, not want to be revealed in the open. He is a postgraduate from HNB Garhwal University and has completed his LLB as well.
Moreover, the BJP has other candidates also lined up but none have the support of the locals or widely recognised as leader. So they are looking for alternative who can be local as well as widely recognised.
Where as Congress too have Vikram Singh Negi who won as Congress lawmaker in 2012 but lost in 2017.He too is, considered to be an outsider and not regularly connected with the local populace.
Though Congress being a largest opposition party seem to have an advantage of BJP’s anti incumbency.
However, despite this factor going in its favour, this time, it will still be tough to win in case BJP puts a strong local candidate with academic credentials and the one socially connected with the local populace during their thick n thin, fighting for their problems especially during challenging Covid times and earlier as well.
However, Congress has local strong candidates like chartered accountant Rajeshwar Painuly who fought as independent in last 3 election and secured 3rd postion every time with his vote bank in tact. He is the one who have been at the helm of several important protests like the one of getting the long awaited Dobra Chanti bridge finally constructed after protracted relentless struggle, organising several health camps during challenging Covid 19 phase in Pratap Nagar interior villages etc.
This time too it seems that he may be candidate of Sanyukt Morcha of Locals in case both the national parties do not change its candidates and give him a chance.
Other candidate of Congress are Devi Singh Panwar, Pradeep Ramola, Smt. Vijaya Laxmi Thalwal, where as the BJP candidates are Bhan Singh Negi, Bhaj Ram Panwar, Prem Datt Juyal, Roshan Lal Semwal, and Attar Singh Tomar etc.
The analysis say that this time the fight seems to be between the Local Vs. Outsider.
And the 03 likely main contenders are Vikram singh Negi of Congress , Vijay Singh Panwar of BJP and Rajeshwar Painuly…
Wait and watch as this constituency have historic temples of Lord Sem Mukhem and Khait Parwat..too..
There is a general perception among the local populace that someone of a strong academic background who had been relentlessly struggling with them during their thick n thin and making his pivotal presence felt all these years fighting to get their grievances resolved shoulder to shoulder should be brought as a candidate by either of the national parties viz Congress or BJP lest they will be constrained to back him in the form of an Independent Morcha candidate obviously indicating towards someone with a transparent socio political background viz Rajeshwar Painuly, chartered accountant with more than 4 decades of professional experience n several years of relentless struggle background.
