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Despite suffering a grievous neck injury in an aircraft accident last month, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat is exuding confidence that the ruling Congress will be able to win all the three Assembly seats where by-elections will be held on Monday.
"We will win all the three seats," the chief minister told Business Standard in Dehradun. Though Rawat has been advised to rest, he is monitoring the election campaign closely from a guest house in Bijapur.
After failing to muster majority in the Assembly in 2012, the by-elections will provide a golden opportunity for the ruling Congress to reach the half way mark in the 70-member House. This is why the chief minister on Sunday appealed to people to vote for the stability of his coalition government. "We are seeking votes on the plank of stability," Rawat said, when asked to comment on the Monday's by-election for three seats of Dharchula, Someshwar and Doiwala.
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The chief minister is trying his luck from Dharchula where he faces BJP's B D Joshi. Rawat must win from Dharchula this time in order to gain entry to Vidhan Sabha under a constitutional obligation.
Political observers said Rawat's chances of winning from Dharchula are bright despite the strong Narendra Modi wave that swept the last general elections. Except for former state minister Trivendra Singh Rawat from Doiwala, the BJP has not fielded strong candidates against Congress from two other seats - Someshwar and Dharchula.
