BJP MLA and former party state president Bishan Singh Chuphal denounced the government officials and bureaucrats in Uttarakhand that they are not listening to party MLAs making them face a difficult situation in their constituencies.

A legislator from Didihat constituency in Kumaon, Chuphal, has reportedly been interacting with other party MLAs who are unhappy with their voices not being heard. This advancement has come at a time when the party has commenced its preparation for the assembly elections scheduled in 2022.

A few days back when BJP state president Bansidhar Bhagat affirmed that rather than banking on PM Narendra Modi’s name, MLAs themselves need to work hard in their constituencies for getting votes. This led to a controversy.

Later, Bhagat tried to clarify the controversy with Opposition Congress leaders saying that it meant the Modi wave had ended. Bhagat said, “PM Modi is the greatest and the most influential leader of the world and the party will make people aware of projects being carried out in the state with his blessings.”

Chuphal, speaking about the fresh developments, said, “We are unhappy that the officials are not listening to us. They are not ready to address our issues or resolve them.” On dissent against the party leadership and his efforts to gather like-minded party MLAs from the Kumaon region, Chuphal said, “We have no issues with the party leadership but the officials.”

“As far as meetings are concerned, I am meeting all kinds of people who come to me with their different issues. As a public figure, it’s my job to resolve their issues. However, the government should do something on the issue of officials not listening to us as public representatives,” he added.

Meanwhile, The political authorities, assert that the development involving some sort of dissidence among the party MLAs, especially Chuphal has much to do with the Cabinet augmentation, as there are three ministerial berths yet to be filled.

However, political analyst SMA Kazmi, who has been keeping an eye on state politics for over a decade, said, “Chuphal is using pressure tactics considering the Cabinet expansion regarding which there were reports that it was going to happen soon.”

“Being a senior MLA, he was unhappy since he was not made minister in the Cabinet after the party came to power in 2017. Now, when only less than a year is left, he is trying to pressurise the party leadership for getting a ministerial berth,” he added.

He also stated, the issue of officials not listening to the party MLAs is also significant as ‘MLAs have to face the public in their area.’

Meanwhile, it has become a great opportunity for opposition congress to take a dig on BJP, Which often attacks ‘factionalism and differences in the state Congress.’

Indira Hridayesh, Congress leader in the state, said the current developments show that all was not well in the ruling party. “MLAs are complaining that neither development is being done nor the officials are listening to them. The public is not happy with this too,” she said.

“Despite a heavy majority, the government is not able to deliver. If it’s not focused on development even now, then the public will soon come out in protest on the roads,” she added.

The BJP, nevertheless, tried to downplay the advancements and said, ‘some MLAs have put their issues before the party forum.’

“There are no variances with the party leadership but there are issues regarding the government administrators. Those have been put at the party forum by some MLAs which are being addressed by the leadership in the party as well as the state government,” said Devendra Bhasin, BJP state vice-president.