Image Credit: twitter.com/pushkardhami
Two-time BJP MLA Pushkar Singh Dhami, on Saturday, replaced Tirath Singh Rawat as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. Aged 45, Dhami will be the youngest chief minister of the hilly state since its formation in the year 2000. Dhami was chosen for the top post earlier in the day during a meeting of 57 BJP MLA’s of Uttarakhand. The oath-taking ceremony will be organized tomorrow, said minister Narendra Singh Tomar who was sent as a central observer to oversee the process of appointing a new CM.
खटीमा, उधम सिंह नगर से माननीय विधायक,
श्री @pushkardhami जी को उत्तराखंड के विधानमंडल का नेता निर्वाचित होने पर हार्दिक बधाई एवं शुभकामनाएं। pic.twitter.com/ycyOX1F8Bm— BJP Uttarakhand (@BJP4UK) July 3, 2021
Currently, Dhami is the Vice President of state BJP and also serves as a legislator in the state assembly representing the Khatima constituency of the Kumaon region in Uttarakhand. Following his elevation to the top post, Pushkar Dhami said that he accepts the challenge and would take ahead the work done by his predecessors. Amid constant reports of infighting within the state unit of BJP, the newly appointed CM said that he would take the party forward with everyone’s support.
Born on 16 September 1975, Pushkar Dhami completed his LLB from Lucknow University in 2002 and is an advocate by profession. His political career started in 1990 when he worked with ABVP, the youth wing of the RSS. He went to become the state president of BJP’s youth wing- the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BYJM). Dhami also became the vice president of Uttarakhand BJP. He is a two time MLA getting elected from the Khatima constituency in the assembly elections of 2012 and 2017.
Dhami reportedly enjoys a close connection with the Union defence minister Rajnath Singh. He is also considered close to former CM Bhagat Singh Koshiyari who currently serves as the governor of Maharashtra.
As the CM, Dhami will be facing the tough task of curbing the constant infighting within the Uttarakhand BJP that forced another BJP leader Trivendra Singh Rawat to resign from the top post in March 2021. He will also be facing the challenge of getting the BJP reelected in the assembly elections which are less than a year away in March 2022.