Bhandari, who resigned as MLA, was unhappy with Ajay Bhatt

Tribune News Service

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Dehradun, June 11

The sudden somersault by BJP legislator from Bhimtal Dan Singh Bhandari, who yesterday night submitted his resignation to Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal, is being attributed to the dictatorial functioning of Uttarakhand BJP president Ajay Bhatt.

Many in the BJP say that Bhandari had been nursing a grouse against the local leadership for ignoring him for the last two years. “He was completely sidelined in the party though both Bhatt and Bhandari are from Kumaon,” said a BJP leader.

Some BJP leaders say Bhandari’s closeness to Harish Rawat was the main reason behind his decision to resign from the Vidhan Sabha at a crucial time when the Congress was fighting the Rajya Sabha elections.

On the other hand, Bhatt said he had already expressed his fear about Chief Minister Harish Rawat alluring one of their MLAs. “I had expressed my fear yesterday night about the possible alluring of one of our MLAs and it came true this morning,” he said.

On the issue of a setback to the BJP and questions being raised about his leadership, especially by the central party leadership, Bhatt said, “The central leadership of I could not have done much if the MLAs were ready to switch sides and the Congress, particularly the Chief Minister, was offering money in exchange of votes,” alleged Bhatt.

The BJP has failed in its strategy to defeat the Congress in the vote of confidence and now in the Rajya Sabha election. It is accusing the Congress of buying its MLAs while it has no credible reply to its own role in the revolt by nine Congress MLAs, who later joined the BJP.

Meanwhile, the Chief f Minister today thanked his party MLAs and the members of the Progressive Democratic Front (PDF) for remaining united and voting for Pradeep Tamta. “We managed to negate the efforts of the BJP to buy support and once again damage the party and the state. They BJP stands exposed today. I do not understand their move to field an independent candidate in the elections. Their intentions were never honourable,” said Rawat.