Diwakar Bhatt’s induction leads to dissension in UKD

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, March 24

The return of former firebrand statehood agitator and Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) founder Diwakar Bhatt into the party fold has created turmoil in the regional outfit, which is trying to regain its lost ground in the hill state.

Without taking into confidence the central working executive committee on the inclusion of Diwakar Bhatt in the UKD, the factionalism in the party has again come to the fore.

Trivendra Singh Pawar, central coordinator of the UKD, has termed the home coming of Diwakar Bhatt as a blow to the credentials of the party as well as hurting sentiments of the party activists.

Talking to TNS here today, Pawar said despite being central coordinator of the party, he was neither apprised nor consulted about Diwakar Bhatt’s induction.

“How can a person who had contested on the BJP ticket be brought into the UKD again. Bhatt garnered votes in the name of UKD throughout his political career, but later played in the hands of BJP for a cabinet berth. Such persons will only weaken the party’s prospects and we oppose this move,” said Trivendra Pawar, who had merged his UKD-Progressive with Kashi Singh Airy’s Democratic party earlier this month to form the united Uttarakhand Kranti Dal.

Charging Bhatt as opportunistic leader, Pawar said in 2008-09 he had asked Bhatt to quit the cabinet minister post, as UKD central committee had decided to withdraw the support from the then BJP-led state government, he ignored the party’s directives.

“This reflected the power hungry nature of Bhatt, who eventually didn’t contest the Assembly election from Deo Prayag on the UKD symbol and switched to the BJP,” Pawar said.

Expressing his displeasure over Kashi Singh Airi’s initiative to bring back Diwakar Bhatt into the party fold, Trivendra said he along with a large number of senior party leaders were not informed about this move, the reason of which should be explained by Airi to them.

On probability of UKD again breaking into two groups, Trivendra said he would work for unity of the party, weakening of this Uttarakhand’s lone regional party, benefit the Congress and the BJP.

We want to strengthen the UKD, before the Assembly elections in 2017. We need time to strengthen our cadre as well as instil confidence among local public, Pawar added.

Jay Deep Bhatt, sub-coordinator of the central election coordination committee said they would raise the issue in the upcoming convention of the UKD on May 16.

He said both Kashi Singh Airi and Trivendra Singh Pawar were capable to lead the UKD, so there was no need to include controversial former leaders into the party fold.