New Delhi: BJP created history by retaining power in Uttarakhand for the second time in a row, and that too convincingly. Since its formation in 2000, power in Uttarakhand has changed every five years. BJP is the first party in Uttarakhand to return to power for a second consecutive term. The party managed to maintain its dominance despite all odds and won 47 seats on Thursday, while the Congress bagged 19 seats.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami suffered a shocking defeat from the Khatima assembly seat on Thursday. Dhami, who managed to secure 41,598 votes with a vote share of 44.8 per cent, was defeated by Congress candidate Bhuwan Chandra Kapri by a huge margin of 6,579 votes.
In what came as a big shocker for Congress, veteran leader Harish Singh Rawat, a chief minister hopeful, lost the election today despite spearheading the campaign for his party in the hill state. Rawat, who was contesting from the Lalkuwa seat, lost to the BJP's Mohan Singh Bisht from by 17,527 votes.
Crediting development and welfare measures of the BJP government in the state for party's resounding victory, Uttarakhand BJP secretary Pushkar Singh Kala said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and hard work of party workers at ground along with the development and welfare measures ensured victory.
"In the last five years under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP governments at the Centre and the state ensured all round development of Uttarakhand. Our double engine government ensured regular electric supply, road networks have been strengthened, rail connectivity has increased, while also taking care of people by providing free ration for almost two years and free Covid vaccine," Pushkar Singh Kala, secretary Uttarakhand BJP said.