UKD central spokesperson Rakesh Dhyani joins BJP, Kunjwal’s nephew switches to UKD ahead of assembly polls
Sunil Negi
DEHRADUN: In a major political development ahead of the state assembly elections, senior Uttarakhand Kranti Dal leader and Indian Air Force veteran Rakesh Dhyani joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday. Dhyani, who served as UKD’s central spokesperson and was known for his sharp criticism of the BJP, was welcomed into the saffron party by state BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Bhatt in the presence of other senior leaders.
Dhyani’s exit comes amid an already turbulent relationship with the UKD top brass. He had differences with Major Bhandari, chief of the UKD Women’s Wing, and former central vice president Ashutosh Negi. Party insiders said his outspoken style had often put the regional outfit’s leadership in a difficult position.
His joining is being seen as a jolt to the oldest regional party of Uttarakhand, but it has also brought relief to sections within UKD who were uncomfortable with his presence. For the BJP, which is battling anti-incumbency, Dhyani’s induction is expected to boost morale and strengthen the party’s outreach among ex-servicemen and regional sentiment voters.
In a parallel development in Kumaon, the nephew of senior Congress leader and former minister Govind Singh Kunjwal joined the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal at a glittering function. Announcing his switch, he cited total disenchantment with the Congress and its policies as the reason for leaving the party.
The two crossovers reflect the churn in Uttarakhand politics with elections approaching, as both the ruling BJP and the regional UKD look to consolidate their bases.
