Uttarakhand saw a close contest, with the Congress acquiring a wafer thin one-seat lead over the BJP in the closely-fought Assembly elections. The Congress won 32 seats, four short of majority in the 70-member House with the ruling BJP following closely with 31 seats.
However, in a last ditch effort to retain power in the state, the BJP, sources disclosed, is mobilising support from the BSP, which won three seats and three Independent candidates. The BJP is also trying to woo the lone Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) winner. Sources said in case the BJP manages to get support of the BSP and Independents, it will stake claim to form the new government with senior leader and Rajya Sabha member B.S. Koshiyari as its chief ministerial nominee.
In a major embarrassment to the BJP, outgoing CM B.C. Khanduri lost his Kotdwar constituency. Ironically, the BJP’s slogan in the state was “Khanduri hai zaroori (Khanduri is needed)”.
The party was heavily banking on Mr Khanduri’s “clean image” and it was the reason that he succeeded Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, who had to quit over corruption charges. Mr Nishank, however, won his Doiwala seat.