‘Field Marshal’ Diwaker Bhatt of Uttarakhand statehood movement no more

‘Field Marshal’ Diwaker Bhatt of Uttarakhand statehood movement no more

S.M.A.Kazmi

Dehradun, Nov 25

‘Field Marshal’ Diwaker Bhatt, a former Uttarakhand minister and senior Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD), a regional outfit which spearheaded the statehood movement died today after a brief illness. For the past week, he was admitted in Mahant Indresh hospital, Dehradun but was discharged yesterday after his condition improved. He breathed his last at his Haridwar residence today.

Diwaker Bhatt, a mercurial leader played a leading part in the statehood agitation. Being associated with Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKKD) since it’s formation at Mussoorie in 1979, Diwaker Bhatt with his aggressive leadership stole the limelight.

Starting as a union leader at Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Haridwar where he worked, he entered politics by successfully contesting and inning the post of Block Pramukh of Kirti Nagar in Tehri Garhwal district.

Recalling his christening as’ Field Marshal’, Shivanand Chamoli, another senior statehood agitationist and UKD leader recalled that it was party’s convention at Gairsain in 1992 where Diwaker Bhatt insisted on getting the post of the President of the party. He was persuaded by Indermani Badoni, the doyen of statehood aagitation known as ‘Gandhi of Garhwal’ from contesting the post but announced from the podium that Diwaker Bhatt is the ‘Field Marshal’ of the agitation. Since then, he was known as ‘Field Marshal’ and participated in every struggle and played a stellar role in ‘Shriant Tapu’ at Srinagar Garhwal and ‘Khait mountain’ agitations.

 He fought the first ever state assembly polls from Devprayag assembly segment in 2002 but was defeated. His defeat led to a personal tragedy. His wife who had high hopes from the first poll of new state was so dejected by his defeat and rejection by the voters that she committed suicide.

 In the next 2007 state assembly polls, during his poll campaign, he told voters that he would also die if they fail to elect him. He told his audience to bring wooden planks for his pier, if he was defeated. Riding on a sympathy wave he won the election and entered the state legislature.

 The BJP which was falling short of one member to get a majority by winning 35 seats out of total 70, formed an alliance with three member UKD and three independents to form the government led by Chief Minister Maj. Gen B.C, Khanduri (retd). Diwaker Bhatt, was made a cabinet minister with portfolio of revenue.

In 2011, he fell out with the party on the question of withdrawing support of the UKD party to the BJP and resigning from the state ministry. He refused and was sacked by the then party President Trivendra Panwar from the party.

 Diwaker Bhatt joined the BJP before 2012 state assembly polls and fought election as a BJP candidate but lost. In the 2017 state assembly polls, he was denied a party nomination by BJP but he fought as an independent from Devprayag but lost.  In May 2017, he again joined his parent party and become its’ President.

 He again fought the 2022 state assembly polls but was trounced again as none from his party was able to make to the state assembly.

In condolence messages from all senior party leaders of UKD, BJP, Congress and left parties his prominent role in statehood agitation was being recalled.