Dhami’s strategy pays off: BJP emerges winner in civic polls

DEHRADUN, 27 Jan: In the recently-concluded civic elections, BJP emerged victorious, securing 10 out of 11 municipal corporation mayor seats, with only Srinagar Municipal Corporation slipping out of its grasp. In addition to the aggressive election campaign led on a front foot by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, BJP’s success can also be attributed to some extent to his development-focused election strategy, which resonated strongly with voters across the state.

At the onset of the elections, Congress appeared poised to give a tough and close fight to the BJP,  focusing its campaign on key municipal corporations like Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haldwani, Srinagar, Kotdwar, and Pithoragarh. Initial aggressive campaigning by Congress, which highlighted issues within municipal bodies and targeted BJP ministers and MLAs, hinted at potential upsets. However, as voting day approached, BJP effectively countered these efforts with a well-executed strategy led by Dhami.

One slogan that really appears to have resonated well with the voters across the state is Chief Minister Dhami’s pitch for “Triple Engine Government”. Throughout his extensive public meetings and roadshows in all 13 districts, Dhami emphasised the need for a “triple engine government” meaning a synchronised effort between the Centre, state, and local bodies to drive development. His promise to voters was clear in this respect that a BJP rule in the civic bodies will guarantee development.

In the days leading up to the election, BJP gained momentum by swiftly addressing contentious issues. When a video of spitting on food at the Uttarayani fair in Kumaon went viral, the Dhami government acted promptly, arresting the culprits and publicly condemning the incident. The Chief Minister’s strong stance against “spit jihad” became a pivotal point in the elections.

Additionally, Dhami showcased his government’s achievements, including passing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the Cabinet, which he presented as a step towards equality and justice. By taking a firm stance against “fatwa politics” and demolishing illegal religious encroachments in Kashipur during the campaign, Dhami appealed to voters across party lines.

BJP’s Saurabh Thapliyal secured a decisive victory in Dehradun, defeating Congress by over one lakh votes. He has attributed his huge win to CM Dhami’s development-focused agenda and the voters’ faith in BJP.

It did not however, appear to be all easy for the BJP in certain corporations like Rishikesh and Haldwani. Initially, the Rishikesh seat seemed to be slipping from BJP‘s hands. However, a last-minute rally by Dhami rallied voter support, leading to BJP’s Shambhu Paswan’s victory.

In Roorkee, BJP capitalised on controversial statements by Imran Masood, which according to the Congress, led to polarisation of Hindu votes and a win for BJP.

While Congress and Independent candidates won some smaller civic bodies, their overall strategy fell short of expectations. Despite initial momentum, Congress failed to make significant inroads into BJP‘s stronghold, losing key mayoral seats across the state.