Top politicians eyeing Doiwala

Dehradun, December 6

Suddenly the nondescript town of Doiwala on the outskirts of Dehradun has come into prominence with the talk of Chief Minister BC Khanduri, former CM Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Congress leader Harak Singh Rawat trying their luck from this constituency.

Though BJP leaders say Khanduri, in all probability, would pick between Kotdwar and Srinagar, his name has also begun figuring among the likely candidates from the Doiwala seat.

After the delimitation, Nishank’s constituency, Thalesein, from where he is a sitting MLA has merged with Landsdowne. He is on look out for a new seat and has been visiting Doiwala quite regularly.

In fact, he had begun wooing people of Doiwala during his tenure as the Chief Minister. The other seat he is eyeing is the Yamunotri constituency.

Since the BJP has all along taken credit for the creation of the new state, it would not like to see two of its leaders, though hailing from the hills, now migrating to the plain areas. “If Khanduri stands from Srinagar, it is bound to have a positive impact on the adjoining constituencies. But even if he decides to stand from Kotdwar, it will make sense. Though a plain area, the constituency is part of Pauri district that falls in the hilly terrain. His act will not be viewed as migration from the hilly terrain,” claimed a party source.

After the delimitation, Khanduri’s Dhumakot Assembly seat has also been incorporated in the Landsdowne Assembly seat.

Interestingly, the Doiwala seat is also being coveted by Leader of the Opposition Harak Singh Rawat. He intends to migrate to the plain area. Though he had started his political career from the hills, the reorganisation of the Landsdowne Assembly seat, from where he is the sitting MLA, has upset his plans.