M A I N   N E W S

BJP attempts to rein in Uttarakhand CM 
 Party in a tizzy to put its house in order in hill state before the Assembly poll
 Nishank told to retain only 14 of the 40 departments he now controls
Faraz Ahmad
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 18
Burdened with a negative mood against its government in Uttarakhand on account of incessant charges of corruption and land scams, coupled with apparent infighting, the BJP is trying to rein in Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank well before the assembly elections due early next year.

The party has directed Nishank to offload most of his portfolios to his fellow ministers and mend fences with former Chief Ministers BC Khanduri and Bhagat Singh Koshiyari

BJP sources said the leadership fears losing Uttarakhand if the state is allowed to carry on the way it is currently going. Both Khanduri and Koshiyari have complained to the party high command and have asked for Nishank’s replacement with an effective leader with an unblemished record.

Additionally, his 12-odd ministers have complained that he has cornered most of the important portfolios. Even though he has given Cabinet rank to all ministers, they have no say in the running of the government or any administrative action.

The Central leaders reportedly spoke to Nishank on July 15 and directed him to set his house in order fast and of the 40 departments he controls he has been asked to retain only 14. Nishank met the acting governor BL Joshi and discussed the issue in detail.

Khanduri and Koshiyari had met party president Nitin Gadkari recently and conveyed to him their inability to work under Nishank. But Gadkari ruled out a change and asked them to work with him and ensure the return of the BJP in the state. Gadkari was willing to discuss the change of leadership after the elections.

Disappointed by this approach, Khanduri recently held a meeting with the leaders of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD), leading to speculations that he might walk out of the BJP and lead a third front with disgruntled BJP elements, the UKD and even the CPM. Thereafter, Nishank was asked to speak to Khanduri directly, which he did on July 7. But it is still not clear whether Khanduri has been persuaded to bury the hatchet.

Similarly to mark his protest, Koshiyari kept away from a recent BJP rally in his state addressed by Rajnath Singh and the Chief Minister.

The party high command has also asked Nishank to intensify his Antyodaya Vikas Yatra and some other populist measures to send across the message that he is sensitive to people’s concerns.