Even though other political parties or independent candidates are preparing to make noise in Kedarnath bye-election, this seat is a question of prestige for Congress and BJP. Despite the BJP government in the state, if this seat is lost then the situation will be shameful for the BJP.
After the date of Jharkhand ,Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha Election 2024 and Kedarnath bye-election was announced, political parties have started making strategies. Meanwhile, news is coming that Samajwadi Party can also field its candidate in Kedarnath Assembly bye-election.
Highligts
- Possibility of tough fight between Congress and Bhartiya Janta Party.
- Congress has already started election preparations.
- The seat is vacant only after the death of BJP MLA Shailrani Rawat.
- With Samajwadi Party jumping into the by-election, the contest may become triangular.
Since the date of Kedarnath bye-election was announced, political parties have started laying the chessboard. While Congress is brainstorming on a winning candidate to win this bye-election at any cost, the names of many candidates from BJP have been sent to the panel.
The morale of Congress has increased after winning the Badrinath and Mangalore bye-elections. In such a situation, the party is seeing possibilities of victory on Kedarnath seat also.
At the same time, BJP is emphasizing on fielding a strong candidate in the hope of capturing this seat again. Possibilities of sympathy vote are also being seen on this seat, due to which discussion is going on to give ticket to the daughter of former MLA late Shailarani Rawat.
This seat had become vacant after the death of BJP MLA from Kedarnath Shailarani Rawat. Congress is seeing better chances of its victory in Kedarnath bye-election.
What is the condition of Congress in the bye-elections held on assembly seats?
Congress had won the bye-elections held in the assembly seats of Badrinath and Mangalore in the month of July. Congress is seeing full chances of winning Kedarnath seat, nearest to Badrinath. However, factional tussle is the biggest challenge before the Congress and the high command is taking precautions to ensure that it does not affect the candidate selection in the Kedarnath bye-election.
Congress had formed a two-member observer team for the Kedarnath bye-election, but after two days the number of members in the team was increased to four including Ganesh Godiyal as a senior observer. Along with this, newly elected MLA of Badrinath Lakhpat Singh Butola, Deputy Leader of Opposition Bhuvan Kapri and Jhabreda MLA Virendra Jati are also included.
Kedarnath Bye election ticket will be given only to the winning candidate
Former MLA Manoj Rawat, District Congress President Kunwar Singh Sajwan and former Cabinet Minister Harak Singh Rawat are among the contenders for the Kedarnath ticket from Congress. Now who will get the ticket depends on the report of the observation team. Congress State President Karan Mahara says that the party will give ticket only to the candidate who wins unanimously.
Congress put in all its strength to win in Kedarnath
On the other hand, the names of 6 leaders are included in the BJP panel, in which former MLA Asha Nautiyal, Kuldeep Rawat, Chandi Prasad Bhatt, Aishwarya Rawat, Kuldeep Azad Negi and Colonel Ajay Kothiyal are contenders. Now the name of one of these is yet to be finalised. Experts say that while BJP is confident of victory in this election, Congress has also put in all its strength to win in Kedarnath, the holy place of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Former MLA late Shaila Rani Rawat had contested the elections from Kedarnath assembly seat on Congress ticket in 2012 and won, but she lost the elections in 2017 assembly elections. In the year 2022, she once again reached the Assembly by contesting elections on BJP ticket. The seat has been vacant since his death in July 2024.
BJP named 6 panels
Notification for the bye-election will be released on October 22 and October 29 is the last date for nomination. Kedarnath seat falls in Rudraprayag district and is part of Pauri Garhwal Lok Sabha constituency. Anil Baluni is the current BJP MP from Pauri Garhwal Lok Sabha seat.
Due to the parliamentary constituency being in the control of BJP, it is also believed that Rudraprayag seat is completely with BJP. Congress may be looking for a winning candidate but BJP has finalized a panel of 6 names and sent it.
BJP can give ticket to Aishwarya Rawat
These include the name of Aishwarya Rawat, daughter of late MLA Shailarani Rawat. Team Aishwarya Rawat has been busy campaigning for Kedarnath seat through social media for a long time. Local people say that perhaps BJP may give ticket to Aishwarya Rawat in the hope of getting sympathy votes.
At the same time, the claim of Asha Nautiyal, who was MLA from Kedarnath seat twice, is also considered strong. However, Asha Nautiyal rebelled against the party in the 2017 assembly elections and contested as an independent candidate.
Names of candidates finalized after survey
The benefit of which was given to Congress candidate Manoj Rawat and he was elected MLA from Kedarnath Assembly for the first time. During that time, BJP had also suspended Asha Nautiyal from the party for adopting a rebellious attitude. This bye-election is also a question of prestige for the BJP because in the previous bye-elections, the BJP had lost Badrinath and Mangalore seats. In such a situation, vigorous steps are being taken for the selection of candidates. Whereas Congress is also serious about selecting the candidates after the survey.
Samajwadi Party alliance also preparing for bye-elections
SP National Secretary Dr. Satyanarayan Sachan informed that the final decision on this has to be taken by SP National President Akhilesh Yadav. Dr. Sachan said that if Congress State President Karan Mahara requests cooperation from Akhilesh Yadav, then Samajwadi Party will contest the Kedarnath seat with the alliance.
If this does not happen then SP will field its candidate. He also said that SP’s aim is to stop BJP from winning the Kedarnath Assembly bye-election, but for this Congress will have to take the initiative first.
Let it be known that the Kedarnath bye-election seat is to be held on 20th November. This seat remains a question of prestige for both BJP and Congress. Despite BJP being in power in the state, if this seat goes out of their hands, then this situation will not be good for BJP.
