Political Evolution in Uttarakhand

1. Pre-Statehood Political Movement

• Demand for Separate State:

  • Rooted in neglect of hilly regions by Uttar Pradesh government.

  • Major protests led by Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) and social organizations in the 1990s.

• Key Events:

  • 1994 Muzaffarnagar Firing – Violent clashes during protests.

  • 1998 BJP Support – BJP promised statehood in its manifesto.

2. Formation of Uttarakhand (2000)

• Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act (2000) passed by Parliament.

• Officially became India’s 27th state on 9 November 2000.

• First Chief Minister: Nityanand Swami (BJP).

3. Political Parties & Trends

• Dominant Parties:

  • BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)

  • Congress

  • UKD (Uttarakhand Kranti Dal) – Played key role in statehood movement but declined later.

• Election Trends:

  • Alternate rule between BJP and Congress since 2000.

  • Current CM (2024): Pushkar Singh Dhami (BJP).

Note: Current Governor: Gurmit Singh

4. Key Political Issues

• Development vs. Environment: Balancing infrastructure projects with Himalayan ecology.

• Migration & Unemployment: Youth moving to plains for jobs.

• Disaster Management: Frequent natural disasters (e.g., 2013 Kedarnath floods).

5. Governance & Administrative Changes

• Capital Debate: Dehradun (interim capital) made permanent; Gairsain proposed as future capital.

• Districts Increased: From 13 (2000) to 17 (2024).

6. Women in Politics

• Reservation: 50% seats reserved for women in local bodies.

• Notable Leaders:

  • Mamta Rakesh (First Woman Speaker of Assembly)

  • Indira Hridayesh (Senior Congress Leader)

7. Future Challenges

• Corruption & Bureaucratic Hurdles.

• Border Disputes (e.g., with Himachal Pradesh).

• Sustainable Tourism & Job Creation.