Dehradun (Mohan Bhulani) : Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the political scene of Uttarakhand’s Haridwar Lok Sabha constituency is undergoing a drastic change. The seat is now held by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but a triangle battle is customarily used to determine the winner. But this time, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is present, and there are questions about the eligibility of certain important candidates, so the BJP sees a chance to win.
Haridwar is one of Uttarakhand’s five Lok Sabha seats. It is thought to be the most difficult race because of caste dynamics and a split voter base. In this triangular struggle, the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) are also actively involved. However, the dynamics of the seat have significantly changed as a result of the CBI’s recent engagement in the state.
The CBI is currently stepping up its investigation into a 2016 sting operation that involved former Congressman Harish Rawat, the chief minister. The organization is also aggressively investigating a case involving unlawful tree-cutting in Corbett Tiger Reserve. Both probes have sparked controversy and implicated politicians such as Umesh Sharma and Harak Singh Rawat.
The BJP has successfully moved from a defensive to a more proactive posture as a result of the CBI’s investigation, which has created a climate of uncertainty. The possible outcome of the Haridwar polls has come under scrutiny due to the involvement of the CBI.
According to Congress spokesperson Shishpal Bisht, the CBI was sent in to target Congress leaders because the BJP is afraid that its stronghold would be challenged. Congress, on the other hand, is unwavering in their resolve, saying that the probe would not affect their election plan and that they will fight for the seat with tenacity.
Currently, Congress, the BSP, and the BJP are vying for the Haridwar Lok Sabha seat. The CBI is investigating Congressmen Harish Rawat and Harak Singh Rawat as well as independent MLA Umesh Sharma. Umesh Sharma has stated that he intends to run in the Lok Sabha elections, but his involvement is pending the conclusion of the CBI inquiry.
Without a doubt, the CBI’s involvement has changed the political landscape by causing candidates to become more concerned and affecting how they are preparing for the election. In spite of the accusations made by the Congress, leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party are optimistic about their future and maintain that the CBI is an independent agency operating under the present NDA administration and that the investigations are unbiased.
