All eyes are now on the Devprayag seat in Tehri Garhwal after refusal by the Congress rebel Mantri Prasad Naithani to take back nomination. The three main contenders for this seat Diwakar Bhatt (BJP symbol), Shoorveer Sajwan (Congress) and Mantri Prasad Naithani (Congress rebel, now an independent candidate) have been MLAs from this seat in the past.
Diwakar Bhatt, who is fighting on the BJP symbol, is pitted against rebel Mahipal Butola of the BJP, while Shoorveer Sajwan of the Congress is facing challenge from rebel Mantri Prasad Naithani.
Both the official candidates of the BJP and the Congress are not getting proper support from the activists in the area. Dr BS Rawat, who had resigned from the BJP medical cell on the issue of Diwakar Bhatt being given the party symbol, said that the party workers were not taken into confidence before this decision.
“Diwakar has not done any work in the area and still he was given ticket by our party, neglecting the strong contenders. There has been a spate of resignations in the party after this which would hit the party hard,” he said.
Former BJP city president Chandra Singh Rawat said that he had quit party over the same issue. Diwakar Bhatt should have nurtured friendship with the BJP activists in the area, but he did not do so. “We have questioned the high command's decision to grant ticket to Diwakar Bhatt and asked why they did not find a suitable candidate within the party,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}Former BJP city president Chandra Singh Rawat said that he had quit party over the same issue. Diwakar Bhatt should have nurtured friendship with the BJP activists in the area, but he did not do so. “We have questioned the high command's decision to grant ticket to Diwakar Bhatt and asked why they did not find a suitable candidate within the party,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}Vinod Todariya who left the Congress said that he had quit the outfit in support of Mantri Prasad Naithani who would have been be a winner had he been given the ticket by the Congress. “Shoorveer Sajwan has few supporters here and we are in favour of Naithani.” Rai Chand Singh Rawat, who also left the Congress, said that Mantri Prasad Naithani should have been given the ticket by the party as he was a sure winner.