Father-in-law of CM’s daughter among Cong ticket seekers

BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, January 20

The Kaladhungi Assembly seat in Nainital district came into existence during delimitation of constituencies in 2012. While the BJP has again fielded sitting MLA Bansidhar Bhagat from Kaladhungi, the Congress has several ticket aspirants. Congress national secretary Prakash Joshi had lost to Bhagat in the 2012 Assembly elections.

Congress sources say besides Parkash Joshi, Bhola Bhatt, Deep Chandra Sati, former Nainital Zila panchayat deputy chairperson Tara Singh Negi, youth leader Sumittar Bhullar, Chief Minister’s close associate Prayag Bhatt and father-in-law of Rawat's daughter Vijay Sizwali are other ticket seekers. “But the contest most probably will be between Mahesh Sharma and Basidhar Bhagat as Prakash Joshi is likely to withdraw from the contest this time,” says Satish Joshi, a Kaladhuni-based political analyst.

Mahesh Sharma, a former Congress leader, came into limelight when former Chief Minister ND Tiwari gave him a plum position during his government from 2002 to 2007. He contested the 2012 Assembly poll as an Independent candidate after the Congress denied him ticket. “He has considerable political clout in the constituency, as he has been active in the area for several years,” says a party leader.

In the 2012 Assembly elections, of the total polled votes (113,419), Bhagat of the BJP got 28.89 per cent votes, while Congress candidate Prakash Joshi polled over 26 per cent votes. Mahesh Sharma was the second runner-up with 15 per cent votes.

Though some people say Bansidhar Bhagat could not do much to match their expectations, others say the state government neglected the constituencies represented the BJP.

Bhagat is credited with bringing a drinking water project for Kaladhungi from a source situated in the hilly region. Besides solving the drinking water problem, he was also instrumental in constructing some roads with his MLALAD funds in Kaladhungi, Kotabagh and Bailparav areas. However, he has failed to bring in any big project for the Assembly.

Local residents say the Chief Minister had promised construction of a stadium during his visits to Kaladhungi and Kotabagh, but he didn't sanction funds. “Harish Rawat had also promised to construct three bridges at Kaladhungi, Methishah Nala and Karkatnala-Guraula but did nothing, as its credit would have gone to the BJP legislator,” says Umesh Joshi, a resident of the Lakadhungi market.

BJP leader and former minister Bansidhar Bhagat is the sitting MLA from the constituency. The party has given him the ticket this time as well. Bhagat is the first MLA from the constituency that was earlier part of the Nainital Assembly constituency.