Uttarakhand Imbroglio

At long last, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Bhuwan Chand Khanduri had to resign because Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) could not win even a single seat in the recent general elections in the State. Journalist-turned-politician Ramesh Pokhriyal has been named as the new Chief Minister of the State. Since the BJP secured much less seats than expected, there is a process of allegations and counter allegations within the party and that process continues unabated.

Faced with mounting rebellion against Khanduri, spearheaded by former Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, the BJP high command asked the 75-year-old Khanduri to put in his papers. Khanduri, who as the Chief Minister of the hill State faced rebellion from the initial days of his Government, was under intense pressure to quit following the party’s rout in the Lok Sabha elections.

Fundamentalist Hindutva Policy
A section of the BJP is blaming the fundamentalist Hindutva policy for the unexpected party's defeat. This section is also accusing the party of attaching undue importance to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and BJP leader Varun Gandhi, for which the party had to face the consequences.

At the two-day meeting of the BJP's national executive in New Delhi, almost all leaders were unanimous that ignoring minorities, particularly Muslims, would be perilous for the party. Although senior BJP leader L.K. Advani clarified that the BJP would take both Hindutva and Muslims along, the clarification in itself is manifestation of the BJP's desire to attract Muslim votes despite falling back on the Hindutva.

Differing and Contrary Issues
The party's affirmation to adopt two differing and contrary issues is evidence of its internal dissension and the war within. This internal bickering was witnessed at the meeting. Prior to it, senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha created a furor by resigning from all posts of the party, which also added to the problem of the top leadership. How issues of the Hindutva and Muslims came up under discussions manifested that all was not well within the party. A few days ago, former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and a BJP Rajya Sabha member, Bhagar Singh Koshiyari, resigned his seat in the Rajya Sabha, although the party leadership could later make him agree to withdraw his resignation.

Moreover, six members of the assembly visited Delhi and warned the BJP top leadership that if Khanduri were not removed from chief ministership, they would cause the fall of his government in the State. It is clear that the party had no option, but to make Khanduri to resign on his own and, thereby, to keep the crisis at bay for some time.

Interestingly, despite having tendered his resignation, Khanduri clearly denied of being responsible for the rout of the party at the hustings. The continuing situation in Uttarakhand indicates that despite Khanduri's resignation, bringing an end to the continuing tug-of-war in the State leadership is not an easy task. Koshiyari was very eager to become the Chief Minister in the State. He is lobbying for that with the BJP members of the Assembly. On the other hand, the federal leadership has made it clear that he would be given organizational responsibilities. In short, the BJP is trying its best to prevent groupism in Uttarakhand; yet, its success appears to be a far cry. In fact, the party has been avoiding to analyze the causes of its rout, ever since the results of the Lok Sabha elections were declared. Even those leaders, who have been asking for an analysis of the causes of the defeat and for introspection, have been directed to hold their peace.

Trouble for Party Leadership
The attitude that the party had adopted on the resignation of Yashwant Sinha is no secret. Immediately after the party's failure in the Lok Sabha elections, Khanduri too had offered to resign, but, on expediency, the offer was rejected. Perhaps, the party leaders feared that if a Chief Minister resigned in the wake of the party's defeat, many other heads would have to roll and those holding high offices would no longer be safe at their cozy seats. They may have to resign accepting moral responsibility.

Keeping oneself blindfolded against the reality is not in any party's interest. Such an attitude cannot help in anyway to prevent the revolt simmering within. This is why even after a month since the general elections results were declared; there appears no lessening of trouble for the party leadership. Instead, it is on the rise. The rebellion against Khanduri and the increase in groupism in Uttarakhand goes to prove it. It also makes one realize that the future path of the party is strewn with thorns.