There is tremendous difference of opinion among the Congress leaders of Uttarakhand on the important issue of ,” Gairsain” to make it a permanent capital of Uttarakhand despite the hard fact that it was during the tenure of the then Congress regime in Uttarakhand led by chief minister Vijay Bahuguna that a budget of Rs five hundred crores was sanctioned and the construction of the Vidhaan Sabha building was completed under the Congress regime.
Not only this but almost all the leaders of Congress have been echoing their voice in support of Gairsain to be made the permanent capital of Uttarakhand , though BJP when in opposition also supported this demand but backed out when in power except holding some assembly sessions there and even passing its budget.
However, as the elections of Uttarakhand are nearing to be held in 2027 , the Congress party has become highly vocal on this issue with the former chief minister Harish Rawat saying number of times publicly that if brought to power in 2027, the Congress party government will certainly make “Gairsain” its permanent capital.
Even the chief justice of High Court Justice Sundriyal had recently in one such hearing taken the politicians to task on issuing false statements when in opposition and forgetting Gairsain when in power adding that hundreds of crores of rupees have been spent in the construction of a huge assembly building and other infrastructure there but the demand to make it a permanent capital stands as it is to square one, which is shameful. He even said how long will the politicians make fool of the people in this issue?
While, the ruling BJP despite being on the power saddle since the last eight years is mum on this issue though the Congress party is vocal, including the former CM Harish Rawat and Pradeep Tamta, former MP , one of its ex cabinet ministers Tilak Raj Behad and Congress leader has openly opposed it while speaking in the assembly the other day.
The former Congress MLA and cabinet minister Tilak Raj Behad has catagorically opposed the demand for making Gairsain as the permanent capital and instead favour vociferously to make Dehradun it’s permanent capital.
He even went on saying that he will continue to say this repeatedly opposing Gairsain, despite this demand being supported by majority of Congress party’s senior leaders.
This widening of differences between the Congress leaders over the most significant demand has infact given advantage to BJP says the former MP Pradeep Tamta including Harish Rawat who have been the strong proponents of Gairsain to make it a permanent capital of Uttarakhand.
When the state Congress president was asked about the anti Gairsain stand of Congress MLA Tilak Raj Behad , Karan Mahara termed the views of Behad as his personal views and not of the party adding further that the party will take a authoritative stand in this in future bringing everyone in confidence after mutually consulting this pivotal issue in a meeting.
Two Congress senior leaders Harish Rawat and Pradeep Tamta have come out openly in support of this demand urging all Congress men to unite favourably on the GAIRSAIN ISSUE.
While the former MP Pradeep Tamta has requested the chief central observer of Uttarakhand Kumari Shaija to convene a meeting of all the leaders of Uttarakhand Congress and arrive at unanimity on Gairsain issue to make it Uttarakhand’s permanent capital the former Congress chief and strong protagonist of Uttarakhand Harish Rawat said that if he or the government of the like-minded Congressmen come to power in Uttarakhand , he catagorically assured of making Gairsain the permanent capital of Uttarakhand.
Sounds shocking that despite the entire populace of Uttarakhand being in favour of Gairsain becoming the permanent capital of Uttarakhand , the ruling BJP despite having comfortable majority is not bringing a bill of this pivotal issue knowing very well that even the majority of the opposition Congress leaders are highly supportive of this demand.
As far as the Congress is concerned , this party is vertically divided internally though unitedly externally , thus factionalism being its main lacunae with even the former prime minister late Indira Gandhi once saying that Congress party is its own enemy being defeated not by external forces but by its own faction ridden leaders during elections.
