Rebels may spell trouble for BJP candidates

Tribune News Service

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Dehradun, February 1

Several rebel candidates from the BJP did not withdraw their nominations even on the last day for the withdrawal of candidature today. More than eight rebel candidates have not withdrawn their nominations are expected to make things difficult for official BJP candidates.

These candidates did not respond to reconciliation efforts by party leaders, including election in charge for Garhwal Union Health Minister JP Nadda. The Uttarakhand BJP leadership is expected to initiate disciplinary action against them, including expulsion from the party.

Rebel candidates Om Gopal Rawat from Narender Nagar, Surat Ram Nautiyal from Gangotri, Mohan Singh Kala from Srinagar, Kavinder Iashtwal from Chaubattakhal, Pramod Nainwal from Ranikhet, Seema Chauhan from Jaspur, Asha Nautiyal from Kedarnath, Harinder Singh from Kaladhungi and Rajeev Aggarwal from Kashipur are giving a tough time to the BJP.

Rajeshwar Painuly, who was seeking the BJP ticket from Pratapnagar, has floated a new party Indian Business Party.

Om Gopal Rawat is expected to hurt the prospects of BJP candidate from Narendra Nagar Subodh Uniyal, while Seema Chauhan who is contesting from Jaspur, is posing a challenge to Shailendra Mohan Singhal. Asha Nautiyal will make the contest tough for BJP candidate Shaila Rani Rawat. These three candidates were elected on the Congress ticket in the 2012 elections but they were disqualified after they joined the BJP in 2016.

On the other hand, senior BJP leader Surat Ram Nautiyal has filed his nomination paper against party candidate Kedar Singh Rawat from Gangotri. Kedar Singh Rawat was elected Gangotri MLA in the 2012 elections on the Congress ticket.