Uttarakhand Kranti Dal - Heritage & Future © Rohit Singh Negi
History
The Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) is a regional political party that played a significant role in the movement for a separate Uttarakhand state, but has since seen its influence decline. Its history is defined by its strong regionalist agenda, while its decline can be attributed to internal disputes and competition from national parties.
History of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal
•Formation and ideology:
1979: The UKD was formed under the chairmanship of Dr. D. D. Pant, then Vice-Chancellor of Kumaon University, with the specific goal of carving out a separate Uttarakhand State from the hill districts of Uttar Pradesh.
It was founded on the 26th of July 1979 by Prof. Devi Datt Pant,
Bipin Chandra Tripathi,
Indramani Badoni
Kashi Singh Airy
Diwakar Bhatt
Surendra Kukreti.......
•Ideology: The party was founded on the principles of civic regionalism and populism, seeking to address the issues of the hill people and ensure social justice for them.
Early political successes and movement leadership
•1980s: Shortly after its formation, the UKD secured a presence in the legislative assembly when Jaswant Singh Bisht won the Ranikhet constituency. Later, Kashi Singh Airy won an Assembly seat from Pithoragarh.
•1994: The UKD initiated major mass movements to push for the constitutional validity of a separate state. These protests gained momentum and public support, fueled by incidents such as the death of leader Indramoni Badoni.
•Statehood achievement (2000): The UKD was a central force in the protests and political maneuvering that led to the creation of Uttarakhand as India's 27th state on November 9, 2000.
Decline of the UKD
Despite its successful role in the statehood movement, the UKD's political fortunes began to wane after the formation of Uttarakhand.
Several factors contributed to its consistent decline:
Inner factionalism: Infighting and internal divisions within the party weakened its organizational structure and public image.
Loss of voter base: As the UKD's focus shifted post-statehood, it lost its dedicated voter base to larger national parties, primarily the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (Congress).
Political opportunism: The party was often criticized for aligning with either the BJP or Congress to secure a share of power, a move that was frequently viewed negatively by the public and further damaged its credibility.
Competition from National Parties: Once the demand for a separate state was met, the two dominant national parties were able to attract voters by promising better governance and development, overshadowing the UKD's regional appeal.
Poor electoral performance: The Party has performed poorly in recent elections. For instance, it failed to secure any seats in the Lok Sabha in 2024.
Factors driving calls for a resurgence
Despite the party's poor electoral showing, there are growing frustrations that fuel the hope for a regional political alternative.
These include:
Concerns over land rights and migration: Some locals, including youth, express frustration that national parties have failed to address issues like the 'land mafia' and ongoing migration from the hills.
Dissatisfaction with current governance: Some activists feel that national parties have commercialized the state and neglected basic services like healthcare in rural areas, echoing a sense of betrayal of the original statehood vision.
Ongoing activism: The UKD has remained active in movements centered around local issues, including campaigns related to land laws and judicial justice in specific cases, such as the Ankita Bhandari murder case.
Youth involvement
The UKD does have young leaders, and recent activity, such as their April 2024 social media posts, has featured messages directed at the youth.
However, gaining the attention of young voters remains a challenge. Some younger people are reportedly unaware of the UKD's history and relevance.
Challenges to a full resurgence
For the UKD to truly reawaken, it would need to overcome several hurdles:
Entrenched two-party system: The BJP and Congress have dominated Uttarakhand's politics, making it difficult for a regional player to gain significant ground.
Internal divisions: The party has historically been plagued by factionalism and infighting, which damaged its credibility.
Resource disparity: The UKD lacks the financial resources and media prominence of the national parties.
While there are individuals and activists working to revive the UKD and its founding principles, the movement has not yet translated into a significant electoral comeback….it has a great and formidable legacy . If UKD can recreate credibility, stature and goodwill….it would sweep any Poll and would once again Represent The People.... it's true legacy.
© Rohit Singh Negi
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