Ritu Khanduri gets ticket from Kotdwar, Anupama Rawat from Haridwar ( R) and Om Gopal from Narendra Nagar, Harak Singh out, Kishore still in waiting
The last and final lists of the remaining candidates have been released on Wednesday night finally closing the chapter of tickets distribution.
The Bhartiya Janata Party has issued ticket to former CM – Major General B. C Khanduri’s, daughter Ritu Khanduri from Kotdwar after cutting her ticket from her previous seat Yamkeshwar where a new comer Dr. Renu Bisht was made the party’s candidate.
Her father had contested from Kotdwarv earlier losing the seat to the present Congress candidate Dr. Surendra Singh Negi, former health minister of Uttarakhand during the tenure of both Congress CMs Vijay Bahuguna and Harish Rawat from 2014 to 2017 n earlier as well.
Ritu Khanduri, wife of union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan got the ticket after the Kotdwar’s sitting BJP lawmaker, former forest minister Dr. Harak Singh Rawat had joined Congress. She is also the grand daughter of the sister of political stalwart, former UP CM n union minister late H. N Bahuguna.
The Congress party has obliged the former CM and chief Uttarakhand Congress election strategist Harish Rawat by delivering two tickets to them, one to him from Lal Kuan after changing him from Ram Nagar in view of controversies erupting due to his opponent within Congress Ranjit Rawat opposing his candidature tooth and nail and another ticket to his daughter Anupama Rawat, national general secretary of Mahila, Congress from Haridwar( Gramin).
Her name was doing the rounds for ticket from this constituency since day one in Congress circles finally getting the stamp of approval.
The recently admitted leader n heavyweight Dr. Harak Singh Rawat could not be obliged with a ticket except giving her daughter in law Anukriti Gusain Rawat, a model n beauty queen by profession chance from Lansdowne.
The name of Dr. Harak Singh Rawat was being heard tremendously as the possible contender from Chowbattakhal constituency against BJP’s, heavyweight cabinet minister Satpal Maharaj, from where a comparatively weak candidate namely Kesar Singh was allotted the Congress ticket.
Rajpal Singh Bisht who had lost last time from here as Rahul Gandhi’s candidate could not get the ticket this time despite his tremendous efforts.
The latest Congress list has an important name of Om Gopal Rawat former BJP MLA originally from Uttarakhand Kranti Dal having joined Congress bagging ticket from Narendra Nagar from Teri Garhwal district against the two term MLA n Agriculture minister of Uttarakhand Subodh Uniyal.
He is considered to be a strong bet having secured more than twenty thousand votes in 2017 elections contesting as independent against Uniyal.
However, the ticket of single Tehri seat has been held up from where the former Congress chief of Uttarakhand recently removed from all posts of the Congress is desperately waiting for party ticket. He had lost from Sahaspur assembly last time, blaming Harish Rawat for his defeat.
According to the final Congress list those who got tickets are : From Narendra Om Gopal Rawat, Doiwala, Gaurav Chowdhary in place of Mohit Uniyal, Jwalapur, SC Ravi Bahadur in place of Barkha Rani, Roorkie Yashpal Rana, Haridwar Rural Mrs Anupama Rawat, daughter of Harish Rawat, Chowbattakhal Kesar Singh Negi, Salt Ranjit Rawat, Lal Kuan Harish Rawat, in place of Ram Nagar, Kaaladhungi Mahesh Sharma, in place of ex MP. Mahendra Pal Singh and Ram Nagar, Mahendra Pal Singh in place of Harish Rawat.
According to retired IPS K. S. Jangpangi : The ticket distribution in Congress in UK has been tardy and immature. The fact that even their tallest leader Harish Rawat has to change his seat speaks volumes about their lack of preparedness and adhocism. FIt shows how casual they are about elections. Selection of candidates is primary foundation upon which you build your election campaign and final strategy for contesting elections. If you flounder in taking basic first step then results are not going to be favourable. It shows no study of candidate’s potential and his or her connect to constituency. You are going into battle blind folded. It doesn’t behove well for their prospects.
