Is Uttarakhand moral, psychological victory for Congress over BJP?

Congress leaders are hopeful that the defeat in Uttarakhand will force a change in the BJP strategy and “compel” the NDA government to abandon its “evil plan of destabilising” opposition-ruled states.

A win in the trust vote in the Uttarakhand assembly will be a “moral and psychological victory” for the Congress that cried foul after the imposition of President’s rule in the hill state.

Former Chief Minister Harish Rawat and Congress MLAs talking to the media after the floor test in the Uttarakhand Assembly, in Dehradun on Tuesday. (PTI)

The Congress claimed victory over the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttarakhand on Tuesday though the Supreme Court will formally announce the results of the floor test on Wednesday.

Uttarakhand was the second state after Arunachal Pradesh where Congress legislators revolted against their chief ministers. In both the states, the BJP had backed the rebels, fuelling allegations that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government was making all-out attempts to destabilise the opposition-ruled states.

Opposition leaders saw developments in Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand as part of the BJP’s “sinister” plan to implement its agenda of “Congress mukt Bharat (Congress-free India)”.

Manipur and Himachal Pradesh were the two other trouble spots for the Congress. While Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh is facing corruption charges, timely intervention by Congress president Sonia Gandhi saved Manipur from going the Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand way.

Read | How the day unfolded: 10 things to know about Uttarakhand floor test

Analysts primarily held central Congress leaders responsible for the growing dissidence in states, especially those ruled by it. They claim the situation was allowed to go out of hand in Arunachal Pradesh by V Narayanasamy and Ambika Soni, who look after the party affairs in the border state.

Similarly, party general secretary in-charge of Uttarakhand was said to have been informed of the rebels’ plan to join the BJP in ousting the Harish Rawat government but no counter measures were taken.

Congress leaders are hopeful that the defeat in Uttarakhand will force a change in the BJP strategy and “compel” the NDA government to abandon its “evil plan of destabilising” opposition-ruled states.

The results will certainly encourage the Congress managers and enable them to focus their attention in setting their house in order in other states where the party is battling mounting dissidence.

For now, Congress leaders are visibly upbeat over the informal outcome of the floor test in Uttarakhand.

“Democracy wins in Uttarakhand. Defeat for conspirators. Truth always wins over muscle and money power,” Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted.

“BJP must apologise to the nation,” he demanded.

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