BJP again targets 5-0 clean sweep in Uttarakhand, Congress measured in approach

The BJP is putting up a high-voltage campaign and the Congress seems to have taken a measured approach as the two parties prepare to battle it out in the five Lok Sabha seats of Uttarakhand that go to polls on April 19. The ruling party swept all five seats of the hill state in 2014 and 2019

While the BJP has run a high-decibel campaign featuring rallies from its top brass, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, national president J P Nadda, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the Congress seems to be taking a more measured approach with AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi being the only national-level leader addressing a rally in the state since the announcement of polls.

The BJP is banking on the “Modi factor” and its recent legislative successes, including the passage of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill and the Ram Temple consecration in Ayodhya in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, apart from welfare schemes and infrastructure push to bolster its narrative of development.

“In accordance with Modiji’s target of 400 paar (above 400), our aim is not only to win all five seats but ensure a victory margin of five lakh votes in each seat,” said Anil Baluni, the former BJP Rajya Sabha MP and its candidate from the Garhwal.

In contrast, the Congress seems to be running a subdued campaign and is relying heavily on the probable anti-incumbency stemming from the Centre’s Agnipath scheme, the Ankita Bhandari murder case, unemployment and the Supreme Court ruling on electoral bonds even as it grapples with internal issues.

Over the past month, the grand old party has seen a significant number of defections including Badrinath MLA Rajendra Singh Bhandari, Manish Khanduri, son of BJP stalwart and former