By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 17 Dec: The list of claimants for the mayoral candidates from the BJP in Dehradun is growing rapidly with several leading and senior party leaders staking claim. Uttarakhand statehood agitationist and senior BJP leader Ravindra Jugran is the latest claimant for the party ticket for the mayoral election. With his entry, the battle for the BJP ticket for the Doon Municipal Corporation Mayor’s seat has turned even more interesting.
Former DAV College student union president Ravindra Jugran, who was jailed several times during the statehood agitation, is the latest BJP leader to express his interest in the mayoral post by sending a three-page letter to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the state party president, and the state general secretary of the organisation.
Others who have already staked claim for the party ticket include outgoing Mayor Sunil Uniyal Gama, President of Doon Mahanagar BJP unit Siddharth Aggarwal, BJP’s State Treasurer Puneet Mittal, and Digambar Singh Negi.
In his letter, Jugran has given a detailed account of his struggles and various jail stints during the statehood movement and his political activities till the present. He highlighted his battles fought on public issues, both on the streets and in the courts. Since joining the BJP in 1997, Jugran has mentioned the responsibilities he has discharged in party governments.
Jugran stated that he has been fully active as a political activist for the last 34 years, continuously engaging in political and social activities. Despite his dedication, the party leadership has never considered him for an assembly ticket. With Jugran’s claim, the BJP leadership now faces another choice. Jugran is known to speak frankly and take clear stands on various political issues concerning the state.
So far, the names of outgoing mayor Sunil Uniyal Gama, Prakash Suman Dhyani, Rishiraj Dabral, Digambar Negi, Kuldeep Butola, Dhirendra Panwar, Anil Goyal, Puneet Mittal, Siddharth Agarwal, and many others are being considered as potential contenders. However, Jugran’s claim has created a new buzz in party circles.
