Legend of Gangotri win and govt formation

Ajay Ramola

Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, January 19

There’s a belief that the party which wins the Gangotri Assembly seat goes on to form the government in the state. This has made the electoral contest for this seat important for the Congress and the BJP.

After the formation of the state in 2000, Congress candidate Vijay Pal Sajwan won the seat in the first Assembly election in 2002. The Congress formed the government headed by Chief Minister ND Tiwari.

In turn of the political tide in 2007, the BJP won the Gangotri seat BC Khanduri formed the government. BJP’s Gopal Rawat defeated Sajwan emphatically. In 2012, Congress’ Vijay Pal Sajwan reclaimed the seat and the party formed the government under the chief ministership of Vijay Bahuguna.

Such developments have made leaders think that the Gangotri Assembly seat has an auspicious aura. Congress workers believe that Sajwan is in a good position to retain the seat due to development work he had done. He is certain to get the Congress ticket.

Meanwhile, BJP candidate Gopal Rawat says all 70 seats have the same significance for the party, but victory in Gangotri has special importance. “I have a good chance of winning the seat this time and the BJP will form the government in the state. Several important leaders have joined the BJP. It indicates that we are on the victory path,” he added.

However, the denial of ticket to RSS-supported old warhorse Surat Ram Nautiyal is a cause of worry for the party. If a rebellion happens and it is not handled with care, it can prove the party dear.

There are around 79,596 voters in the Gangotri Assembly segment, of which 38,425 are women and 1,401 are service voters.

In 2012, Congress’ Vijay Pal Sajwan had got 20,246 votes while BJP candidate Gopal Rawat polled 13,223 votes. The number of voters has risen by 8,258 votes with 52 per cent belonging to the Rajput community, 17 per cent Brahmins, 28 per cent Scheduled Castes and 2.7 per cent to Scheduled Tribes. Rest are from the minority community. This Rajput majority seat has seen Rajput candidates over the yearsi.

The Assembly constituency begins from the Gangotri shrine with more than 150 villages in Bhatwadi, Taknaur, Bad Gaddi, Bada Haat, Dhanari, Barsali, Gajna Pattis, including the municipal area of Uttarkashi town. Around 80 per cent of the voters live in rural areas. The main issues of the Gangotri area are health, education and road connectivity.