UKD (D) passing through major upheaval

Rebels not happy fighting on BJP symbol

Dehradun, January 5
The Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (D) is passing through a major upheaval for the last two days. Acting president of the party and head of the executive committee Luxman Singh Chufal is leading the group of dissidents in the party, who are not happy with the decision of party president and state Cabinet Minister Diwakar Bhatt to fight on BJP’s symbol in the Assembly elections.

Chufal is intending to break away from UKD (D) and fight in this election with the rebels. Chufal also belied the reports published in some newspapers that he was appeasing the incensed party workers to comply with Bhatt’s decision. He blamed party spokesperson Satish Semwal for distorting the facts before the media in his name.

Chufal also claimed to have got resignation letters of some 100 party office-bearers and members who wanted to split up from the Diwakar group. He said: “It was before merging with the other faction of UKD in

the year 2005 that the party was registered as UKD (Democratic), having me as the president of the party. I will lead the new party in that name and will not need to get fresh registration.”

He awaits more resignations to come his way on Friday after which he is slated to jump into the electoral arena.

Satish Semwal tried to mitigate the damage the party is destined to face, saying: “The anger brewing inside the members is more on cancellation of their seats. Chufal, who was to fight from Khatima, is highly upset as well. The discontentment will be easily contained by Diwakar Bhatt as he is scheduled to arrive from his constituency.”

Chufal refused to give in to any pressure tactics and fumed, saying: “Diwakar Bhatt is not playing politics but exhibiting traits of dictatorship. By lapping up two tickets from BJP, he had darkened the future of the rest of 68 candidates of the party who are adamant on fighting the elections as they worked hard in their constituencies. If Bhatt had fought from his party, even for two seats, we would have backed him up fully. But he is sailing in two boats. He should resign from any of the two parties because representing two parties is constitutionally incorrect.”

On the other hand, other faction of UKD (P) did not open its cards for the second list of the candidates as was decided to be done today.

Party general secretary Shishpal said: “We are being contacted by rebels from UKD, BJP and Congress. So the party leaders want to withhold the release of the second list till the Congress list is also announced so that the disgruntled leaders from other parties could be considered on various seats of the party.”

He said party leaders were also engaged in assuaging the discontent among those who are likely to be displaced from the list to make room for outsiders.