Cong rebel backs BJP presidential nominee

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 27

The state Congress has failed to rope in Independent MLA from Dhanaulti Pritam Singh Panwar to support their presidential nominee Meira Kumar exposing the lack of cohesion prevailing in the party that has yet to come to terms with the defeat it suffered at the hands of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2017 Assembly elections.

Along with Ram Singh Keda, Pritam Singh Panwar has announced his decision to support the BJP presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind. 

“The Congress leaders failed to approach me, so I have decided to lend support to the BJP candidate,” said Panwar.

Panwar, an Independent MLA was part of the Congress governments led by former Chief Ministers Vijay Bahuguna and Harish Rawat.

In fact, due to his good equation with former Chief Minister Harish Rawat, the Congress had even announced to extend support to Panwar, even after announcing their official party candidate Manmohan Singh Mull. The confusion had cost the official candidate his seat, while Panwar won in the 2017 election. 

On the other hand, Ram Singh Keda, a former Congress man, who was denied a party ticket from the Congress and had stood as an Independent candidate, had already declared his intention to support the BJP soon after taking oath of office. 

Party leaders in the Congress claim that the party is still undecided as to who should come out to garner support for their presidential nominee, as no one has been entrusted with the responsibility by the central leadership. 

Terming the decision of Panwar as unfortunate, Leader of the Opposition Indira Hridayesh said, “It is true that Panwar was with us in the Cabinet and enjoys a good rapport with us. But it is true that he has decided to support the BJP presidential nominee,” she said. 

Significantly, with just 11 Members of Legislative Assembly (MLA) in its kitty, the Congress has its task cut out in the presidential elections due in July.