The BJP has defeated the Congress in Uttarakhand, but fallen short of the magic figure by one seat, leaving it to the mercy of independents and smaller groups during government formation. Out of total 69 Assembly segments where elections were held on February 21, BJP was able to win 34, while the ruling Congress could win only 20.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) improved its earlier tally by a seat winning a total of eight seats and emerging as the thrid largest party.

Surprisingly, the Uttarkhand Kranti Dal, the regional outfit that spearheaded the Uttarakhand statehood movement, was been further marginalised with just three seats. They had four seats in the last House. In Narendra Nagar, where recounting was ordered, its candidate Om Gopal was ahead of Congress’ Subodh Uniyal.

But the BJP is now caught in a bind on who to choose as Chief Minister. Caught in two minds after the competing claims of former Union minister Maj Gen B.C. Khanduri (retd) and state BJP chief and former chief minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari for the top post, the party high command has decided to send party observers to meet the legislators and ascertain their view.

Senior BJP leaders Gopinath Munde and Om Mathur would be visiting Dehradun on March 1 to ascertain the views of the newly elected legislators. “They will be coming to meet the legislators,” Uttarakhand BJP spokesperson Ajayendra Ajay said.

Although the BJP had not projected anyone as chief ministerial candidate, the party had given enough hints that Khanduri would be the choice of the BJP brass if the party comes to power. Khanduri was also made incharge of the Election Campaign Committee. Even former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, during his election rally at Srinagar in Garhwal, had hinted at giving Khanduri an important role.

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