BJP's Banshidhar Bhagat Slams Kumari Selja Over Uttarakhand Defeats
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Escalating political friction in Uttarakhand, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator and former state party president Banshidhar Bhagat launched a sharp critique against Congress state in-charge Kumari Selja on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Addressing media representatives in Dehradun, Bhagat asserted that the public has rejected Congress's political counsel, urging Selja to account for the party's electoral setbacks across Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Chhattisgarh before offering critiques of the state administration. The senior ruling-party lawmaker dismissed Congress's ongoing statewide Nyay Yatra as an attempt to regain relevance, maintaining that public backing remains firmly behind Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s legislative reforms, including the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and strengthened land regulations.
Citing Past Poll Reversals: Bhagat Questions Selja’s Electoral Track Record
Challenging the Congress leadership's organizational standing in the state, Bhagat pointed to past election outcomes:
The 2017 Assembly Tally: Bhagat recalled that during the 2017 Uttarakhand assembly elections, when Kumari Selja served as the party's co-in-charge, Congress was reduced to an all-time low of 11 assembly seats in the 70-member house.
Losses in Haryana and Chhattisgarh: The BJP legislator argued that Congress suffered decisive setbacks and organizational instability in both Haryana and Chhattisgarh under her watch, undermining her party's standing to advise the electorate on governance.
Accountability Over Advice: Bhagat remarked that opposition leaders must first reflect on their internal organizational shortcomings and repeated electoral defeats before questioning development initiatives undertaken by the incumbent government.
The Ankita Bhandari Case: Defense of the SIT Probe and Judicial Process
Responding to Congress's campaign surrounding the high-profile Ankita Bhandari case, the former state BJP chief outlined administrative actions taken by the government:
Decisive Administrative Action: Bhagat underscored that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami took immediate action following the incident, ensuring transparency and accountability from day one.
Special Investigation Team (SIT) Oversight: The state administration constituted a dedicated Special Investigation Team (SIT) to carry out a forensic and time-bound probe, ensuring evidence was secured and placed before the judiciary.
Strict Court Proceedings: Bhagat noted that legal proceedings continue vigorously in the courts to ensure severe penalties for the perpetrators, accusing Congress of politicizing a sensitive tragedy through its Nyay Yatra.
Policy Push: UCC, Land Laws, and Good Governance
Highlighting key governance initiatives, Bhagat asserted that the state government enjoys public support on its flagship legislative moves:
Uniform Civil Code Implementation: The BJP leadership reaffirmed that Uttarakhand’s rollout of the Uniform Civil Code represents a landmark legal reform for equal civil rights, receiving widespread backing across civic groups.
Strengthened State Land Regulations: Bhagat emphasized that ongoing efforts to tighten local land ownership laws aim to protect regional cultural identity, natural resources, and local employment opportunities.
Prediction on Nyay Yatra Outcome: Concluding his address, Bhagat maintained that public trust in good governance will render the Congress party's protest foot-march ineffective across the hill state.
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