BJP leaders lock horns for mayoral poll nomination in Haldwani
Uttarakhand is scheduled to hold local body polls in April.
BJP leaders have started staking their claim for party nomination to contest mayoral poll in Haldwani, Kumaon’s biggest municipal corporation, even as it is not clear yet whether the post will be reserved for woman or scheduled cast candidates.
Uttarakhand is scheduled to hold local body polls in April.
Incumbent mayor and BJP leader JPS Rautela, who fought the 2017 assembly election from Haldwani constituency unsuccessfully, is vying for party nomination for mayoral post again. He is said to be a top contender.
BJP state unit general secretary Gajraj Singh Bisht is lobbying for party ticket, sources said.
Bisht, who failed to get nomination to contest the last state poll from Bhimtal constituency, is a prominent BJP leader in the hill state. He is said to be close to senior BJP leaders, including former chief minister Bhagat Singh Koshyari.
Mayor Rautela is said to be close to Kaladhungi MLA Banshidhar Bhagat, who is a BJP stalwart in Kumaon.
Bisht has even succeeded in including his village in the municipal corporation area. “My village Chadayal Nayak has been included in the municipal corporation area by the government and I had no role in the new delimitation,” said he said.
Bisht said though he was holding an important position in the state BJP, he would accept the party ticket for mayoral election. “I am a dedicated soldier of the party and would follow its command,” he said.
Rautela said his claim for party ticket was very strong as he had carried out several developmental works in the city. “I am a dedicated soldier of the party and would stake my claim for ticket,” he said.
The opposition Congress is also yet to take a call on its candidate for the post. Congress leader Sumit Hridyesh has made it clear that he would only fight the assembly elections.
It is being said that Mahesh Sharma, who had turned a rebel during the 2017 poll, could be roped in. Abdul Matin Siddiqui, who contested the last mayoral election on Samajwadi Party ticket and later on joined the Congress, is also seen as a contender for party nomination.