UKD Amid the BJP-Congress Battle in Uttarakhand

Ajay Kumar, Lucknow

The political temperature in Uttarakhand has started rising as the state heads toward Assembly elections. With less than eight months left before the polls, every party has begun laying out its political strategy. While the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is determined to create history by retaining power, the Congress is making every effort to end its decade-long exile from government. Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD), which has traditionally championed regional identity politics, is also trying to reclaim its lost ground. In this 70-seat state, the contest is beginning to appear triangular, although the main battle still remains centred between the BJP and the Congress.

A look at the results of the last Assembly election shows that, in 2022, the BJP broke Uttarakhand’s tradition of alternating governments by returning to power for a second consecutive term. The party secured 44.33 percent of the vote and won 47 seats. Congress received 37.91 percent of the votes but managed to win only 19 seats. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and independent candidates won two seats each. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had contested the election aggressively, projecting Colonel Ajay Kothiyal as its chief ministerial face, but it secured only 3.3 percent of the vote and failed to open its account.

Interestingly, two prominent leaders lost from their own constituencies in that election. Former Congress Chief Minister Harish Rawat was defeated from Lalkuan, while then-Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami lost his traditional Khatima seat to Congress candidate Bhuvan Kapri. However, the BJP leadership continued to place its trust in Dhami and later got him elected through a by-election from Champawat, allowing him to continue as Chief Minister.

To understand Uttarakhand politics, it is essential to understand the electoral dynamics of the Kumaon and Garhwal divisions. Garhwal has 41 Assembly seats, while Kumaon has 29. In the last election, the BJP dominated Garhwal, winning 29 seats, while Congress was reduced to just eight. The picture was different in Kumaon, where the BJP won 18 seats and Congress secured 11, indicating a much closer contest. This is why both parties are focusing heavily on these regions. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had recently planned rallies in both the Kumaon and Garhwal divisions. A large crowd gathered in Almora, but due to bad weather, he could not attend in person and instead addressed party workers through phone and virtual means. State Congress President Ganesh Godiyal has also been continuously touring the state and engaging directly with people.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is set to become the first BJP Chief Minister in Uttarakhand’s history to complete a full five-year term. To counter anti-incumbency, the BJP has begun working on a micro-level strategy. Between June 13 and June 16, the party launched a major campaign in which Lok Sabha MPs, Rajya Sabha members, and core group leaders were sent to the 23 constituencies that the party had lost in the previous election. These leaders even stayed overnight in those areas to better understand local organisational realities and the reasons behind the defeats.

As far as election issues are concerned, the BJP is preparing to seek votes on the basis of infrastructure development, the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), and religious tourism, particularly the Char Dham Yatra and the Manaskhand Temple Garland Mission. The Kumbh Mela scheduled to be held in Haridwar in 2027 could also provide the party with a major opportunity to strengthen its administrative image.

On the other hand, Congress does not lack issues, but internal factionalism remains its biggest challenge. State President Ganesh Godiyal has been working actively on the ground, yet even after seven months, the state executive committee has not been constituted. Recently, Congress’s Uttarakhand in-charge, Kumari Selja, visited the state for two days but returned to Delhi after completing her engagements in just one day, increasing concerns among local leaders regarding the party organisation.

Harish Rawat’s decision to go on a brief “silent break” some time ago had also triggered political speculation, although he later clarified that he would campaign with full strength to ensure Congress’s victory. According to Ganesh Godiyal, Congress will present both the achievements of its own governments and the failures of the current administration before the people.

This time, the party is preparing to strongly raise issues such as unemployment, migration from the hills, paper leak scandals, the Ankita Bhandari murder case, the deteriorating condition of healthcare services, and the loss of life and property caused by wild animals.

Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, which has roots in the statehood movement, is also working to strengthen itself. Party Central President Ashutosh Negi and Youth Wing President Ashish Negi have been continuously holding public meetings across districts. The party’s biggest issue remains the demand for a permanent capital in the hill region. According to the UKD, real development of the hills cannot take place unless the Chief Minister and legislators function from the hills themselves.

In addition, the UKD has been vocal about granting permanent resident status to people living in the state since 1950 and implementing a strict land law. The party also says that if it comes to power and any paper leak incident occurs, the Chief Minister should be held directly responsible and must resign. According to Ashutosh Negi, the party is currently working from a position of strength in around 30 to 35 constituencies.

Political observers believe that the stronger the UKD becomes, the greater the damage it is likely to cause to Congress, since the BJP’s core voter base remains largely intact. Although there is some public dissatisfaction with the government, the opposition still lacks a leader who can match Pushkar Singh Dhami’s political stature. The contest in the Kumaon division is expected to be particularly close, and if Congress can overcome its internal divisions and distribute tickets effectively, it may gain an advantage.

For now, the picture suggests that the BJP is relying on development and organisational strength to retain power, Congress is trying to stage a comeback by highlighting the failures of the government, and the UKD is attempting to bring its traditional issues back into the spotlight. The coming months are likely to bring even more interesting twists to Uttarakhand politics, making this election more intriguing than ever before.

(The writer is a senior journalist and can be contacted at 9335566111.)