By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Rudrapur (US Nagar), 11 Nov: With assembly elections approaching in Uttarakhand, the BJP has stepped up its campaign in order to stay ahead of the Congress party. The party has already begun to invite national party leaders and prominent leaders from other states to address rallies and interact with the locals. In this regard, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is scheduled to visit Uttarakhand tomorrow to interact with local residents in Khatima Assembly constituency and address a rally during a programme to be held at Shaheed Harikishan Singh Inter College.
It may be reminded here that Khatima is a VIP constituency since Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is the sitting MLA from there. Dhami has already indicated that he will contest the coming assembly elections from Khatima. In this context, the scheduled visit of the MP CM becomes politically significant. In fact, in the run up to the assembly elections, political experts expect many more VIP leaders from across the country to address rallies or stage marches in Khatima. CM Dhami has increased the frequency of his visits to Khatima in recent weeks.
According to the local BJP leaders in Khatima, the party has already launched an outreach campaign in the constituency, with Udham Singh Nagar Zila Panchayat Chairman Ajay Maurya taking the lead in coordinating preparations. Maurya conducted public contact programmes in Jhankaiya, Jhauparsa, Baguliya, Ashok Farm and Melaghat areas, informing residents about the proposed visit and appealing to them to participate in large numbers in the interaction programme.
According to BJP leaders, Mohan Yadav will hold a direct dialogue with local people during his visit. Political observers are also viewing the programme through an electoral lens, as the areas where the interaction is scheduled have a sizeable population belonging to the OBC and Purvanchal communities. The visit is therefore being seen as an opportunity for the BJP to strengthen its outreach among these sections of voters ahead of the next Assembly elections.
Party office-bearers and workers are actively engaged in mobilisation efforts under the leadership of Ajay Maurya. Alongside preparations for the chief minister’s visit, the BJP is also focusing on arrangements for Chhath Puja, one of the most important festivals of the Purvanchal community, which will be celebrated on 15 November.
Maurya shared with the media today that various Chhath ghats, including those at Nausar and Melaghat in Khatima, have been beautified this year to facilitate devotees. He added that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has also taken initiatives for the construction and development of around 20 Chhath ghats in key areas of the district, reflecting the government’s efforts to support and preserve the cultural traditions of the Purvanchal community.
