For B C Khanduri’s daughter, fight in Yamkeshwar will be BJP vs BJP vs BJP

DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand election has become a lot tougher for Ritu Khanduri Bhushan, ex-chief minister B C Khanduri's daughter.

Ritu is contesting from Yamkeshwar, in Pauri Garhwal, on a BJP ticket and faces two party rebels -Shailendra Singh Rawat, who left the BJP to join the Congress a few days ago, and Vijaya Barthwal, a sitting BJP MLA contesting as an Independent.

Both Barthwal and Rawat are grassroots leaders. Also according to sources, both of them are playing the victim, saying they were denied tickets despite UT being locals who worked for the people (vis-a-vis Khanduri, regarded as an outsider).

This, say, observers, may make the task for Ritu, who runs an NGO in Garhwal, much tougher. All three candidates are wooing a voter base that has traditionally voted BJP.

The constituency has over 83,000 voters across 230 villages who are largely Thakur and brahmin. Barthwal won the seat in 2012, 2007 and 2002 on BJP tickets and is regarded as a strong local leader. She is certain to cut into Khanduri's vote base, as will Rawat.

Rawat, who won from Kotdwar in 2007, did not get a party ticket in 2012. Major Gen B C Khanduri was made the party candidate and Rawat was said to be unhappy about being overlooked in favour of the ex-CM, who went on to lose the seat.

Asked whether the contest against two exBJP candidates had spoilt her chances, Ritu claimed, "Nowadays voters value development over other issues and I am approaching them with a genuine desire to develop the area.I am sure they will respond favourably ."

Meanwhile, Barthwal told TOI she was "highly disappointed at being overlooked for a ticket by the BJP despite working hard in the area"."I am contesting the election only because of my supporters in the constituency," she said.

Rawat, too, claimed he had moved from Kotdwar to Yamkeshwar "because my roots are here and the people know me for several years".

However, the area's ex-servicemen, who are believed to constitute about 20 per cent of the voting base, might root for the retired major general's daughter.