Political observers here feel unlike in previous assembly polls, the BJP this time is wary of announcing a chief ministerial candidate as there are too many contenders in the party for the top office.
Announcing a name may trigger infighting in the party and jeopardise the party’s prospects in the hill state, they said.
Apart from three party heavyweights and former CMs who are now MPs including Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri, Bhagat Singh Koshiyari and Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, there is former Congress chief minister Vijay Bahuguna too who is now in the BJP.
With too many leaders nourishing the ambition of occupying the top office, BJP has chosen to walk the line cautiously and avoid announcing a CM candidate in advance, poll watchers said.
However, going by the party s track record in Uttarakhand, it has always announced CM candidates ahead of assembly elections.
When asked how the party was going to accomodate the former Congress MLAs who had joined its ranks, Vijayvargiya said they had become dedicated workers of the BJP now and will do whatever the party leadership asks them to do.
“If the party gives them ticket to contest elections they will enter the poll fray, if not, they will continue to serve the party the way they are doing now,” he said.
