U’khand by-poll: Modi factor won’t work this time, says CM

Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat, who is fighting in the upcoming state Assembly by-election, believes that Narendra Modi factor will not work this time around and people will vote for his government to bring in stability in the hill state.

In an interview to PTI, Rawat blamed anti-incumbency and failure to counter the BJP’s campaign against the UPA as reasons for Congress’ drubbing in Lok Sabha polls and its inability to win from any of the five constituencies in Uttarakhand, ruled by him since February this year.

Taking responsibility of the debacle, Rawat said he got ‘less time’ to prepare even though he maintained that excuses should not be given for such defeats.

The Uttarakhand Assembly by-poll scheduled for July 21 is significant for Rawat’s future as it is mandatory for him to make his entry into the state Assembly within six months of being sworn in. He will be contesting from Dharchula seat.