Shunned by Cong, Tiwari backs BJP

Congress leader Narayan Dutt Tiwari who was denied a party ticket to contest from Nainital has given his blessings to BJP nominee from the seat Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, saying he alone could accomplish his unfinished task.

Koshiyari, a former chief minister of Uttarakhand, was garlanded by Tiwari when he called on the Congress veteran at his Lucknow residence recently and spent about 40 minutes with him, Tiwari’s OSD Bhawani Dutt Bhatt said.

Giving his blessings to Koshiyari, Tiwari said he knew him as a leader, who was easily accessible to people. Koshiyari is a rooted leader who enjoys a connect with people, Tiwari said, adding that the BJP leader ‘alone’ is capable of implementing the formula devised by him for the development of the hills.

“I am sure he will accomplish my unfinished mission of bringing about development in the hills,” the Congress veteran who was the chief minister of both Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, said.

The blessings of Tiwari, who has nourished the Nainital constituency for years, to Koshiyari is being seen in political circles here as as a major shot in the arm for the BJP.
By giving his blessings to Koshiyari he has sent a message to the people of the constituency to vote for him and ensure his victory.

Expressing deep anguish over being ‘neglected’ by a party he served for six decades, Tiwari recently announced he would not contest the Lok Sabha polls putting at rest speculation that the octogenarian, who has kept a low profile over the past few years could stage a political comeback.

Announcing his decision not to contest the polls, the sulking leader had said he felt cheated after the kind of treatment he was meted out to by a “party he served for 60 years like a loyal soldier”.

Congress has reposed faith in its sitting MP from the seat K C Singh Baba, who is pitted against Koshiyari in Nainital.