DEHRADUN: With less than a week left for counting of votes, cracks have surfaced within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is hoping to unseat the ruling Congress in Uttarakhand.
A couple of BJP leaders from Khatima assembly constituency, in a letter to party president Amit Shah, has alleged that half a dozen leaders worked against the party candidate and sitting legislator Pushkar Dhami.
The letter dated February 19, addressed to Shah, copies of which have also been sent to other party prominent leaders, including Uttarakhand in-charge Shyam Jaju.
Khatima is the first example where party leaders have openly alleged sabotage. The BJP first won in the Congress stronghold in 2012. In the recently concluded polls, the Congress tried to make its presence felt but the contest largely remained between the BSP and BJP.
Though the BJP is confident of repeating its 2012 performance, a section within the party believes the sabotage could play spoilsport.
“PM Narendra Modi wave helped the party in Uttarakhand and we are hopeful of winning in Khatima... But we request you to take action against leaders who worked against the party candidate in the polls...,” the letter to Shah said. Those who wrote letter include party district general secretary Gopal Bora.
{{/usCountry}}“PM Narendra Modi wave helped the party in Uttarakhand and we are hopeful of winning in Khatima... But we request you to take action against leaders who worked against the party candidate in the polls...,” the letter to Shah said. Those who wrote letter include party district general secretary Gopal Bora.
{{/usCountry}}The letter has left the party leaders tightlipped. The party’s US Nagar district president Shiv Arora said he has not received the copy of the letter. Though, a copy has been marked to him as well.
“I have heard that some leaders have written a letter but I have not gone through it,” he told HT on Sunday.
Sitting party legislator Pushkar Dhami when contacted, also refused to comment on the sabotage allegations.
“I just focused on my elections and I am thankful to workers for standing with me” he said.
Raju Bhandari, state BJP president who was named as a “traitor” in the letter, rubbished allegations, saying that he was the campaign in-charge for two districts and stayed out of Khatima during the polls.
“I don’t know why I have been named,” he told Hindustan Times.
The BJP won seven out of the total nine seats in US Nagar district in the 2012 polls. This time, party strategists are hoping to win between four and six seats.