Why March is a volatile month for Uttarakhand politics

DEHRADUN: The month of

March

has a dubious distinction linked with witnessing some major political turmoil in the Himalayan state.


It was in March 2016 when an effort was made to topple the Harish Rawat government when a group of MLAs revolted against the CM. Then, in March last year, chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat sprung a surprise by declaring Gairsain as the summer capital which shook up the politics in the Himalayan state. This year, too, it is in March that the CM announced the decision to make Gairsian into a commisionary incorporating the districts of Kumaon. The move is said to have greatly incensed the BJP MLAs from Kumaon and a political crisis has ensued in the state with a change of guard likely.



Political analyst

Jay Singh Rawat

told TOI, “March has a special connection with the politics of Uttarakhand as this is the month when a new government is formed after each election. Also, the budget session – which is usually passed in March – becomes extremely important.”

Incidentally, it was during the budget session in 2016 that the Harish Rawat government faced rebellion from its own MLAs. Five years on, it is again during the budget session that the

Trivendra Rawat

government, too, faced uncertainty with the saffron party MLAs being called to Dehradun to meet the party observers and the session wound up in a hurry.

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