Dehradun: The 2007 Kumbh in Haridwar and a flurry of high-level political activities in Uttarakhand have triggered speculation that assembly polls, originally expected in early 2027, might be advanced to late 2026. BJP national chief Nitin Nabin has made back-to-back trips to Uttarakhand, and Congress state in-charge Kumari Selja will be visiting the Himalayan state on June 17, her third visit in slightly over a month. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi also recently arrived at Pantnagar for a two-day visit to both Kumaon and Garhwal, but his trip had to be curtailed due to bad weather conditions.
The sudden sense of urgency is visible on the ground, as the state's election machinery has fast-tracked its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Booth level officers (BLOs) are currently undertaking a rigorous door-to-door survey from June 8 to July 7. The final updated electoral rolls are slated for publication on September 15.
Political Analysts Weigh In
Political analysts believe the Election Commission of India (ECI) may look to hold the polls as early as late November or the first half of December. A major factor behind this speculation is a scheduling conflict with the Haridwar Kumbh Mela, set to draw crores of pilgrims to Har-Ki-Pauri in the early months of 2027, overlapping with the time elections would normally be due. "Conducting high-stakes assembly elections in high-altitude areas becomes nearly impossible after mid-December due to heavy snowfall. With a battery of senior leaders finalizing strategies with grassroots workers right now, there is a strong possibility that polls will be wrapped up before December 15," said political analyst Udit Ghildiyal.
BJP and Congress in Full Campaign Mode
BJP and Congress have shifted into full campaign mode. Following directives from Nabin, the ruling BJP has accelerated structural operations. State media in-charge Manveer Singh Chauhan revealed that the party is focusing on booths lost during the 2022 elections. Senior party leaders, including former chief ministers and MPs, have been assigned to micromanage the 23 constituencies won by the opposition in the last state polls. Additionally, the state party unit has enforced a mandatory schedule of monthly district-level and weekly mandal-level meetings to keep local cadres election-ready.
Meanwhile, the opposition remains unfazed. State chief spokesperson of Congress Garima Dasauni emphasized that the decision rests solely with the ECI, but asserted that Congress is prepared for any scenario. "BJP is anxious about electoral arithmetic because they know the people will demand accountability," Dasauni said. She added that the electorate remains focused on critical issues such as unemployment, inflation, women's safety, recruitment scams, and corruption.
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About the Author: Gaurav Talwar, journalist reporting on natural disasters in the Himalayas with a keen interest in politics, especially during election season.
