By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 25 Dec: With the announcement of the municipal elections, political activities have intensified. Among the 11 municipal corporations in the state, the Dehradun Municipal Corporation is the largest, with 100 wards, a mayor, a deputy mayor, and 99 councillors. As the capital city of the state, Dehradun holds significant political importance, and this time, the ruling BJP may face tough competition from the opposition Congress.
Before the filing of nominations, both Congress and BJP face the challenging task of selecting candidates for the mayoral position. Several potential candidates have emerged in Congress, and one of the prominent names is Rajeev Mehrishi, who today submitted his application for the mayoral position at the Congress office. Born and raised in Dehradun, Rajeev Mehrishi is known as an educated and visionary leader. He has been a strong spokesperson for the party in the media, representing the party’s views with dedication and seriousness.
This is the first time that Mehrishi is directly stepping into the electoral arena. He was a student leader at DAV College and has been actively involved with Congress from the beginning. He has been associated with NSUI, Youth Congress, and has also participated actively in the state movement. As a student and youth leader, Rajeev Mehrishi has consistently raised issues related to public welfare. His loyalty to the party is unquestionable, and he has been actively involved in every party programme from before the state’s formation to the present.
Experts believe that Mehrishi is a well-known figure in Congress, likely to gain the support of leaders like state president Karan Mahra, former CM Harish Rawat, Leader of Opposition Yashpal Arya, former leader of opposition Pritam Singh, former president Ganesh Godiyal, and other senior leaders. Mehrishi is regarded as a highly likeable and tactful leader, which could make it easier for him to secure support from party seniors for the mayoral nomination in Dehradun.
Supporters within Congress describe Rajeev Mehrishi as an extremely tactful leader, always available to people, and having a reputation as an honest and well-meaning leader. They believe that over the past eight to ten years, anti-incumbency sentiment against the ruling BJP has grown, which could work in Mehrishi’s favour. He has been outspoken on state and city issues, and his ability to address them effectively is well recognised. With his educational background, gentle speech, and leadership skills, Rajeev Mehrishi has previously worked on solving urban issues. If given the responsibility, he is believed to have the potential to address these problems more dynamically and transform Dehradun into a truly “smart city”, beyond the rhetoric of a smart city.
Rajeev Mehrishi stated that if the party places its trust in him, he will work relentlessly to improve Dehradun’s traffic management, waste disposal, public amenities, parks, parking, drainage, drinking water, cleanliness, education, and health systems. His supporters believe these efforts will directly benefit the public and improve the quality of life in the city.
