Uttarakhand assembly polls: Yashpal Arya's exit may hit BJP in Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital

The exit of transport minister Yashpal Arya and his MLA son Sanjeev Arya from the BJP to the Congress is a setback for BJP given its timing. With just months left for the assembly polls, BJP has little time to find a replacement for Arya, a stalwart Scheduled Caste leader. Arya was expected to help the BJP in its SC outreach, particularly in Kumaon's Terai belt.

Arya's exit has also dented the psychological advantage the BJP had over the Congress after its recent induction of a Congress MLA and two Independents into the party. Arya himself was a similar 'catch' for the BJP before the last assembly polls. His exit could adversely impact the BJP in parts of Udham Singh Nagar district, which has nine assembly seats, and is witnessing farmers' agitation. Khatima, one of the seats from the district, is chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's seat.

A section of BJP leaders believe that Arya returned to the Congress as his Bazpur seat is the centre of the farmers' agitation in the district and he would have lost as a BJP candidate. However, Arya's resignation may make it difficult for BJP to rein in other former Congress leaders who joined the BJP in 2017. Arya enjoys popularity in neighbouring Nainital district too. His son Sanjeev Arya represents Nainital in the assembly. "It may be a difficult task for the BJP to select a potential candidate to field against Sanjeev in Nainital. Sanjeev is popular in the constituency," a BJP worker said.


According to BJP insiders, the party tried to persuade Arya from defecting, given his stature as a SC leader. Dhami recently visited Arya's residence for a breakfast meeting to persuade him to stay back in BJP. The Congress was also keen to bring back Arya into the party fold ever since he quit. On Monday, there was celebration at the Congress state headquarters in Dehradun after his return.