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Election Results a Reverse of 2002

map elections 2007

map 2002-2007

The votes are in, and it looks like a BJP near majority. Given that independents can easily haggle for plum positions from a party in such a dominant position, a BJP government is all but assured. In fact, this is a near reverse of 2002, so the more things change, the more they remain the same.

A loss of one seat for UKD (with only Pushpesh Tripathi holding his seat) reflects that, despite doubling its votes, the party’s support has gotten more spread out. The loss of Kanalichinna, long a stronghold of Kashi Singh Aeri, and Nainital, where Narayan Singh Jantwal stood, are particularly jarring. Yamunotri was also taken by the Congress, lending credence to Dinesh Agrawal’s claim of a division of votes (although who is taking from whom is an open question).

The results from the Election Commission so far:

BJP 34
INC 21
BSP 8
UKD 3
IND 3

According the Garhwal Post-Umeed India pre-election poll, BJP was leading in Bajpur before the election, so the tally might go to 35.

The two elections show that no government has yet been able to deliver on the expectations of Uttarakhand. Instead, voters have expressed their disappointment at the ballot box, by voting against the government, yet falling into the trap of duopolistic politics. An alternative has yet to emerge, which tells much about the crisis of democracy in the post-statehood period.

Here are some probable reasons for the election results:

  • Congress government’s neoliberal policies of land expropriations, water privatization, and massive dam building. This has sparked off movements throughout the state protesting a highly fraudulent environmental impact assessment process and the ensuing displacement and loss of rights.
  • Continuing political alienation of the plains, despite industrialization.
  • Galloping inflation, growing gap between rich and poor, and chronic unemployment.
  • A resurgent BJP that has successfully captured much of the anti-incumbency momentum by default compared to a somnolent Congress beset by party rebels.
  • Division of votes where Congress took seats from UKD, with BJP walking up the middle.
  • And not to forget, ND Tiwari’s negative reputation as an old-style political operator who has undermined his own party.

The big question is whether the BJP will take this as their cue to impose their more extreme agenda, or will they pursue the development plank? Will they sell out the region’s resources? Will they polarize the population through a communal agenda? These are big questions that will need to be answered.



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