In Uttarakhand, Covid-19 pandemic wave presents uphill task for BJP

The new chief minister has rescinded some unpopular decisions of his predecessor

“Apna booth, corona mukt booth (Our booth will be Covid-free)” is the pledge that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cadre was recently sworn to as part of a larger motivational pitch served in the prelude to the Assembly polls in February-March 2022. More than anything, it reflected the BJP’s pre-occupation with the pandemic that has weighed on the blueprint that was originally drawn to get itself a second term in the hill state. The BJP’s game plan went askew after the Kumbh mela that was planned to showcase as a highlight of its rule caused an unprecedented Covid surge in