The results of bypoll to Badrinath came as shock for BJP central and state leadership. Congress Lakhpat Butola defeated three term MLA and former minister Rajinder Singh Bhandari by a margin of more than 5000 votes. The by poll was necessitated as Bhandari the sitting Congress MLA resigned before loksabha election and joined BJP at the behest of BJP Central leadership.
The loss of Bhandari has made one thing clear that lack of coordination between state and central leadership of BJP is turing out to be nightmare for BJP. A central leader ensured Bhandari entry into BJP without taking Sate President Mahendar Bhat and Chief Minister Dhami into confidence. Both Dhami and Bhat came to know about Bhandari entry few days before his joining BJP.
During ticket distribution also both CM and State President were not consulted and ticket for Bhandari was decided by Central leadership. All these development had a negative impact on morale of common BJP workers in Badrinath due to which Bhandari has to face a humiliating defeat.
While speaking to Bhadas a leading political analyst said that BJP has faced similar defeat in UP and Himachal due to lack of coordination between Central and State leadership. He further added that Dara Singh Chauhan lost Ghosi in UP because CM Yogi was not taken into confidence before Dara Singh induction into BJP, similarly in Uttarakhand a central leader inducted Bhandari to ensure victory in Pauri Loksabh and both CM Dhami and State President Bhat were unaware of his joining.
If the BJP want to repeat its 2022 performance in Uttarakhand assembly election of 2027 then less intervention of Central leaders is required and common workers sentiments have to respected and party needs to maintain safe distance from turncoats. Uttarakhand being a small state BJP should follow set patterns and avoid experimenting as they do in big states
