New Delhi: Uttarakhand, the land of gods, is heading for a single phase voting on February 14 to elect its 70 member Assembly.
The campaigning has already reached feverish pitch, though restrained by Covid induced restrictions and political parties are in high-octane drive to woo the electorate. However, one interesting fact is that the state never re-elects the sitting Chief Ministers or incumbent governments for a second term.
Since its formation in 2000, the state has seen 4 successive governments, each alternated by BJP & Congress and vice-versa.
In 2012, it was a neck and neck fight between Cong & BJP. One seat turned out to be decider. Congress with 32 seats formed the government while BJP with 31 seats sat in opposition.
During 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the saffron party won 55% vote share which in turn resulted in 63 seats in the 70-member Assembly.
In 2017 elections, BJP snatched big victory & secured 57 seats in the 70-member Assembly. This year, BJP took decisive lead in both regions of Uttarakhand – Kumaon & Garhwal by bagging 47% vote share. BJP won 23 & 34 seats in Kumaon & Garhwal while Cong was reduced to just 5 & seats respectively.
In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, BJP won its best ever mandate in the state by grabbing 60% vote share and thus maintaining its dominance in 65 assembly segments out of 70 seats. Congress fared moderately with 30% vote share while other parties were wiped out from the poll arena.
As the 2022 elections come close, political watchers are also keen to see whether CM Pushkar Dhami will buck the trend and lead the incumbent government to power for 2nd term, which the state has never seen before.