Assembly polls : Dip in vote share failed to deter BJP from getting 2/3 majority
Saturday, 12 March 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
By securing a resounding victory in the just concluded Assembly elections, the ruling BJP has shattered the trend of the ruling party always losing Assembly elections with power alternating between the BJP and Congress every five years. In the elections in which the Modi wave negated the effect of anti-incumbency against the BJP government the ruling party romped home with 47 seats in the 70 member assembly. Though the vote share of the BJP dipped from 46.51 per cent it secured in the last elections to 44.34 in this election it managed to register an impressive win in the polls by winning in 47 seats. The Congress vote share increased from 33.49 percent in 2017 to 37.91 in 2022 but it could win only 19 seats in the 70 member assembly. In this election the BSP showed its presence with 6.98 per cent vote share and two seats while on two seats the independent candidates secured victory.
In the first assembly elections in the year 2002, the BJP was confident of a victory in the polls since it was instrumental in creating a separate state of Uttarakhand but the people of the state voted in favour of the Congress party in the elections. The Congress secured 36 seats in the polls while the BJP could win only 19 seats. The BSP and Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) had managed to win seven and three seats respectively. In the second assembly elections held in the year 2007, the electorate gave a divided mandate. The BJP secured 31.90 per cent vote and won 34 seats while Congress could win 21 seats only. Major General (retd) B C Khanduri of BJP formed the government with the support of independents and UKD. In the third elections held in the state in the year 2012, the Congress won 32 seats while BJP was a close second with 31 seats. The Congress formed the government with the support of independents and BSP. In the assembly elections held in the year 2017 the Congress fought the election on the face of Harish Rawat but the BJP secured a landslide victory with 57 seats. The Congress could win in only 11 seats. CM Harish Rawat lost from both Kichha (Udham Singh Nagar) and Haridwar Rural seats he contested.
In the just concluded elections the chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami lost from Khatima assembly constituency while the tallest leader of Congress in Uttarakhand, Harish Rawat lost from Lalkuan assembly segment.
