By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 31 Oct: Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) which was once a formidable political party in the state is now trying hard to stay relevant in the state politics and to revive its political fortune. With the political parties stepping up preparations for the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly elections, the UKD has taken the lead in announcing candidates ahead of both the BJP and the Congress. Addressing a press conference here today, party central president Surendra Kukreti released the first list of candidates under the party’s ‘five-layer selection system’. The list includes nominees for 16 Assembly constituencies across the state. The party said priority has been accorded to organisational loyalty, commitment, public service and contributions made towards safeguarding Uttarakhand’s interests while selecting the candidates. It also made it clear that a second list would be released in the coming months.
According to the list issued by UKD, former MLA Kashi Singh Airi has been fielded from Pithoragarh, former MLA Pushpesh Tripathi from Dharchula, Puran Singh Kathait from Devprayag, Prakash Rana from Pratapnagar, Ashish Negi from Karnaprayag and Dinesh Kunjwal from Jageshwar. In addition, Dev Chand Uttarakhandi has been nominated from Rajpur, Pratap Singh from Salt, DD Pant from Tehri, Karan Chandola from Kapkot, Pradeep Chand from Kashipur, Kailash Singh Pangti from Nanakmatta, Bhuvan Chandra from Ramnagar, Rajendra Singh Negi from Dehradun Cantt, Ritu Kandiyal Bhuyal from Khanpur and Chandan Singh Rana from Ghansali.
In addition to announcing the first list of candidates for the forthcoming assembly polls, UKD leaders also outlined the party’s political direction and key issues for the forthcoming elections. Young face of the party, Ashixzsh Negi launched a sharp attack on the BJP, stating that even after so many years of statehood, the condition of basic facilities in the hill districts have not improved. He alleged that hospitals continue to face a shortage of doctors and that women are still confronted with harassment and hardships on a regular basis.
Negi said the development of Uttarakhand could not be achieved by focusing on only one or two issues and that a comprehensive roadmap is required for the state’s future. He argued that the 1992 blueprint prepared before the formation of the state needed to be revisited. According to him, the blueprint envisaged 23 districts, 150 to 200 blocks, around 104 Assembly constituencies and four commissionerates in Uttarakhand. It also proposed administrative arrangements covering Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, Pithoragarh and Garhwal regions. Negi maintained that smaller administrative units would ensure better delivery of government schemes to villages and facilitate more effective resolution of local issues.
Raising the issue of rights over natural resources, Negi said the people of Uttarakhand still do not enjoy adequate control over the state’s water, forests and land. He claimed that residents of the hill regions continue to pay electricity and water bills despite the abundance of natural resources in the state. He described forests and natural wealth as Uttarakhand’s greatest strengths and reiterated the party’s demand for Gairsain to be made the permanent capital of the state. He said that when the policymakers and political leaders functioned from Gairsain and experienced the realities of the hills directly, meaningful policy changes would follow. According to him, challenges such as wildlife attacks, deficiencies in healthcare facilities and the daily struggles faced by people in remote mountain areas can’t not be properly addressed without understanding ground realities.
Commenting on candidate selection, Negi said the first list included 16 candidates, of whom four tickets have been allotted to young leaders and workers associated with the party’s youth wing. He added that efforts have also been made to provide representation to members of the ex-servicemen’s wing, women and statehood movement activists. The party, he said, has adopted a strategy that combines the experience of senior leaders with the energy of youth. Senior figures such as Kashi Singh Airi and Pushpesh Tripathi have also been included in the list.
The UKD leader claimed that his party is not contesting the forthcoming Assembly elections merely to attain power but is entering the electoral battle with a commitment to rebuilding Uttarakhand in accordance with the aspirations of the martyrs of the statehood movement and the vision outlined in the 1992 blueprint. Extending his best wishes to all the declared candidates, he expressed hope that they would receive the blessings of Badrinath and the other Char Dham shrines. According to the party leadership, organisational and electoral activities will now be intensified following the release of the first list, and a second list of candidates is expected to be announced soon.
