Uttarakhand Congress hits back at turncoats who joined BJP amidst civic polls

Uttarakhand Congress hits back at turncoats who joined BJP amidst civic polls

B.D.Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, Jan 5

Two days after Congress leaders, Mathura Datt Joshi, Bittu Karnataka and Jagat Singh Khati left their party to join ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), state Congress president Karan Mahra has claimed that their leaving Congress party will not affect party in any way in the fight against BJP in the ongoing civic body elections in the state.

“The party and it’s committed workers will emerge with new energy to fight the communal forces who have no records of developmental works in their respective  local bodies governed by the ruling party, .”said Karan Mahra, while talking to this correspondent from Dehradun.

The Congress president said that all three leaders who have left the party have been given beyond their contribution to the party.” While Mathura Datt Joshi was given key position to run party headquarter keeping in view his long contribution to the party, Jagat Singh Khati was made chairperson of Pithoragarh Nagar Palika parishad for two terms by Congress party. There are thousands of committed workers working selflessly for the party for decades, but these turncoats enjoyed positions despite having no base of their own amongst party,” said Mahra.

Khimraj Joshi, state spokesperson of Congress party based in Pithoragarh, has said that the leaders like Mathura Datt Joshi and Jagat Singh Khati have no base in their own district.”These two leaders namely Mathura Datt Joshi and Jagat Singh Khati have no following amongst party workers and cannot influence even ten voters and none in the Congress party is surprised at their exit,” said Khimraj.

The Congress spokesperson asked how many Congress workers were with them when they left the party. “Sadly, they had been doing politics for their own interests, and could not made support base for party in their respective  areas,” said Khimraj. Matura Datt Joshi who wanted a party nomination for his own wife was miffed at the denial by the party for the Pithoragarh mayoral seat. The Congress party is facing a rebel candidate, besides six others in the electoral fight for the Pithoragarh Municipal Corporation Mayoral post. Interestingly, the rebel candidate is openly supported by Pithoragarh Congress MLA Mayukh Mahar who is his close relative. The Congress party has yet to act against the party legialtors while these three leaders who joined BJP have been expelled for six years.

Mathura Datt Joshi, former Congress vice president at party headquarter, when asked what promises BJP leadership has given to him on his leaving his 48 years long association with Congress party, he replied said that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and other top state level BJP leaders have made it clear to him that everything in BJP  happens with its’ own system, though they will could not break system but will think to give him respect.” After my statement on Congress party sidelining my wife as a mayoral candidate appeared in the media, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited my home thrice offering the party membership while my party did not took my protest seriously,” claimedJoshi.

Jagat Singh Khati, who left the party with Joshi, said that he is leaving Congress as the party has completely sided fully with mafia money and dedicated workers are being ignored.” Exit of khati will only affect a few voters who had been getting benefits during his tenure during his two terms as chairperson of Pithoragarh Nagar Palika which has now been upgraded to Munciiapl Corporation,” said Khimraj Joshi.

Mahendra Singh Lunthi, a senior Congress leader in Pithoragarh said that while Jagat Singh Khati has joined BJP to get relief from a financial embezzlement case pending against him in high court, Mathura Datt Joshi was caught conspiring against Congress high command.” Both have no workers base in Pithoragarh.

Bhupendra Singh Bhoj, district Congress president in Almora said that Bittu Karnataka, who also left Congress to join BJP, has no workers or popular base in Almora and his exit is least felt in the local party circles. “Such leaders, who could not develop their own base amongst masses have always remained a liability on the party rather than an asset,” said Almora Congress president.