Will Pushkar Dhami return as Uttarakhand CM? Decision likely at key BJP meet today

New Delhi: The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) returned to power in the hilly state of Uttarakhand for second consecutive term but the defeat of CM candidate Pushkar Singh Dhami led to power vacuum in the state as well as party.

However, the speculation over various names floating for the CM post will be settled with the BJP legislature party meeting and finalising a name for the Chief Ministerial position.

The elected BJP MLAs will elect their leader in the house, who in turn will become the Chief Minister. The decision to convent the meeting comes a day after Pushkar Singh Dhami, Ramesh Pokhriyal & Trivendra Rawat met the Central leadership at Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s residence.

Pushkar Dhami continues to remain the frontrunner for the post as he helped party storm back to power. However, other potential candidatures for the post include MLAs Satpal Maharaj, Dhan Singh Rawat and Rajya Sabha member Anil Baluni.

Union Minister of state including Ramesh Pokhriyal & Mos Defence Ajay Bhatt are also reportedly in the race.

The BJP won clear majority in the 70 member Assembly and gained over 47 seats.

While BJP registered massive victory in Uttarkhand, Dhami’s loss from his constituency Khatima came as a big setback. In the run up for finalization of Chief Minister’s name, the spearheading of BJP’s successful election campaign by Dhami can’t be ignored.

Political observers believe that Dhami should be given his due for driving party to resounding victory. Also, the party received enough backlash for changing 3 Chief Ministers within months. Then there are others who cite the convention and say that party has never practiced such preferential treatment in past.