After Satpal Maharaj, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has netted another big fish from the Congress pond.
Former irrigation minister Matbar Singh Kandari, who joined the Congress after the 2012 Assembly results, has come back to the BJP fold. "I have apologised to BJP President Rajnath Singh (for joining Congress) and even told him in unequivocal words that I am ready to even pick up broom for BJP," Kandari said. "Joining the Congress was a big mistake," said Kandari, a former leader of the opposition.
State BJP President Tirath Singh Rawat said Kandari would shortly be re-inducted into the BJP.
The move by Kandari to rejoin the BJP is being seen as a yet another big setback to Congress in the runup to the election in the state where it recently lost Maharaj, an influential leader in the Garhwal region.
The shock has come at a time when the ruling party is unable to find suitable candidates for Tehri and Pauri. "I can only say Bahuguna has been told clearly by the party high command that he should contest election from Tehri," said a senior Congress leader.
In 2012 Assembly byelection, Kandari had joined the Congress in his bid to boost the fortunes of the then chief minister Vijay Bahuguna's son Saket. It was however a different matter that Kandari's influence in Congress did not work for Saket who suffered a humiliating defeat in the hands of BJP's Mala Rajyalaxmi Shah.
Meanwhile, Congress was still not certain whether Bahuguna will contest from Tehri this time. "I can only say that Bahuguna has been told clearly by the party high command that he should contest election from Tehri," said a top Congress leader. On the other hand, Congress has already finalised sitting MPs Pradip Tamta and K C Singh Baba from Almora and Nainital seats. And from Haridwar, Chief Minister Harish Rawat's wife Renuka is the front runner. Lt Gen (retd) Gambhir Singh Negi's name is also doing the round from Pauri seat.
