Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 20 Mar: Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee president Ganesh Godiyal today claimed that the people of the state have made up their mind for a change in the 2027 Assembly elections and will extend their support to the Congress in spite of BJP’s efforts to manage public anguish by expanding the cabinet.
He was dddressing media persons during his visit to the Srinagar Assembly constituency today, on the occasion of the inauguration of the party office in Srinagar.
Commenting on the cabinet expansion in the state, Godiyal claimed that the move was prompted by internal strife within the BJP ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections. He alleged that the expansion was carried out to suppress internal dissent within the ruling party and criticised the BJP for overlooking its own workers and senior legislators while giving greater importance to leaders who had defected from the Congress. He further claimed that the induction of leaders with a Congress background into the cabinet reflects the BJP’s attempt to manage internal conflicts. The PCC Chief added that despite the expansion, infighting within the party is likely to persist in the run-up to the elections.
Godiyal further alleged that corruption has taken deep roots in the state and accused the BJP government of becoming authoritarian and unrestrained, stating that it has failed to live up to the expectations of the people. He said that a change in power is necessary not only for the present but also for the future of the state, adding that those in authority have adopted an autocratic approach and that such unchecked governance must be brought to an end through democratic change.
Reiterating the party’s long-standing position, Godiyal said that, if the Congress forms the government in the state, Gairsain will be made the permanent capital of Uttarakhand. He maintained that real development in Assembly constituencies across districts such as Bageshwar, Almora, Tehri, Chamoli and Pauri would be possible only after Gairsain is established as the capital, describing it as the sole hope for balanced regional development.
At the same time, former PCC Chief Karan Mahara has also criticised the cabinet expansion. In a statement issued following the cabinet expansion, Mahara asserted that it has brought into sharp focus the perceived gap between the BJP’s stated principles and its political conduct. While the party has long projected itself as a “cadre-based organisation”, encouraging its workers to dedicate years of service marked by struggle, loyalty and sacrifice, the latest developments have led to growing discontent among grassroots workers who feel sidelined at a crucial juncture. Mahara added that the party workers who have spent years organising events, putting up posters and working tirelessly during elections are said to be feeling disillusioned, as the opportunity to share in power appears to have eluded them. Instead, ministerial positions in the expanded cabinet have been given to leaders whose political roots lie in the Congress, a move that has sparked debate within political circles.
Congress spokesman Abhinav Thapar has also criticised the move. He stated that the expansion of the Uttarakhand cabinet under Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has triggered a debate over its timing and underlying intent, with observers suggesting that the move raises several pertinent questions about governance priorities and political strategy. The development is an indication that the confidence of the central leadership in the Chief Minister may not be as firm as before, particularly in view of the sudden reshuffle of departments that had long remained under his direct charge. The decision to induct ministers for what is effectively a limited period of six to eight months in the run-up to the Assembly elections has also come under scrutiny.
