Regional and caste politics in Dhanaulti

Mussoorie, January 24

For the first time, regionalism and caste politics at the micro level is being played out in Dhanaulti while the real development issues are being ignored. The nominees in the fray are relying more on exploiting regional and caste aspiration to garner support than raising the issue of
development.

It seems that the rebels from the Congress and the BJP, contesting as Independent candidates, have taken the lead this time in raising the caste and regional sentiments to ensure their victory from Dhanaulti.

BJP rebel Rajesh Nautiyal from the Chaijula region (patti), who is contesting as an Independent, is trying to raise the regional sentiments and portray himself as the mass leader fighting for the respect and integrity of the Chaijula and Dus Jula regions in the Jaunpur block.

His supporters are also portraying Nautiyal as a leader of a great stature from the Brahman community.

Another rebel candidate from the Congress, Jot Singh Bisht, contesting as an Independent described the denial of ticket to him as disrespect to the people of the Thauldhar block.

During his campaign, Bisht has been successful in raising the anti-national party sentiments by spreading the message that the Congress and the BJP have failed to give ticket to any leader from the Thauldhar region, therefore this was the best opportunity for them to seek revenge by casting their vote in his favour.

Bisht, being a seasoned politician, does talk about development issues during his campaign and is promising development. He has promised to promote organic farming along with micro financing, however, the focus still remains on the region that has never seen any MLA from the constituency.

For the first time, both national parties have fielded their candidates from the same region, Palli Gard. Mahaveer Rangad from the BJP belongs to Lalotna village and Manmohan Singh Mall is from a neighbouring village, Bangaar.

The other candidates, Mohan Lal Nirala from the BSP, Gulab Singh Rawat, Usha Panwar, Devendar Chamoli and Yashvir Arya, who do not have much clout in the region, are also trying to galvanise the support of voters from the areas they represent using similar means.

Praveen Uniyal from Kempty village said national parties have failed to provide any relief to them and this time he was pinning his hopes on Rajesh Nautiyal to solve the problems of the constituency.

Ramesh Rawat from the Thauldhar region believes that the treatment meted out by the Congress to the leader from their region, Jot Singh Bisht, has raised awareness among them and this time they were supporting him. The officials of major political parties have termed such tactics as dangerous for the democracy. Youth Congress leader from the region Bittoo Kavi was of the view that such issues do not last long and the educated voter of the region would realise that by raising caste and regional sentiments, the Independent candidates could fool voters for short time but in the long run, the issues would outplay any other aspiration.