Dehradun: The month of March is set to be a hectic one in Uttarakhand politics. Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah is visiting Haridwar on March 7th. Preparations are underway at a rapid pace. This is primarily a cooperative conference. Furthermore, his visit is officially linked to reviewing preparations for the Ardh Kumbh Mela, proposed in 2027.
While this event may be being held to commemorate the four-year anniversary of the Dhami government, it is also being considered extremely important in political circles in light of the upcoming assembly elections. The choice of a venue like Haridwar is particularly significant.
CM Dhami announced this visit during a Holi Milan celebration held at the BJP state headquarters in Dehradun on March 2. He stated that the central government has approved ₹500 crore for the proposed 2027 Ardh Kumbh in Haridwar.
Expressing gratitude to the Center for this, he said that this amount will help strengthen the infrastructure for the event. He said that the fair administration officials and staff are already working to ensure that the upcoming 2027 Ardh Kumbh will be divine and grand.
All work will be completed in a timely manner, making the event historic. According to CM Dhami, Home Minister Amit Shah will arrive at the Bairagi Camp in Haridwar on March 7th to conduct an on-site inspection of the preparations for the Ardh Kumbh, gather feedback from relevant officials, and also interact with the public.
Ahead of Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit, Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami held a high-level meeting today to review the preparations in detail. He instructed officials to ensure all arrangements for the event were well-organized and dignified.
CM Dhami specifically urged vigilance regarding security, traffic management, parking arrangements, sanitation, drinking water, electricity supply, and health services. He also directed that pilgrims and local citizens should not face any inconvenience.
CM Dhami said that the proposed event at the Bairagi Camp in Haridwar is expected to draw a historic crowd. The central government’s release of ₹500 crore indicates the importance of a religious event like the Kumbh Mela for the state. He also hinted that Amit Shah may announce some new schemes for the state.
Political analysts believe this visit will not be limited to reviewing religious events. It could also be a major political show of strength to mark the completion of four years of the Dhami government.
According to the BJP office, Home Minister Amit Shah will also attend a meeting of the state BJP team, where core committee members, former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, Tirath Singh Rawat, the state general secretary, and senior leaders will be present. The meeting is likely to discuss strategies for the 2027 assembly elections.
Haridwar district is considered politically sensitive. In the last assembly elections, the BJP failed to win seats like Haridwar Rural, Khanpur, Mangalore, and Piran Kaliyar. Therefore, this time the BJP is planning to strengthen its hold here through religious events and development work.
On the other hand, the Congress party has called the BJP’s event a political stunt. Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Harish Rawat has expressed his views. He has expressed concern over the current situation in the state.
Political analyst’s opinion: Senior political analyst Sunil Dutt Pandey believes that the BJP is attempting to balance both the Kumbh and the assembly elections. According to him, the proposed visits of Amit Shah and then Prime Minister Modi indicate that religious events are being combined with political strategy. The BJP has faced challenges in the Muslim-majority and rural areas of Haridwar. Therefore, it will be interesting to see how much impact this event will have.
It should be noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit is scheduled for March 23rd. This means that after Home Minister Amit Shah’s program, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also scheduled to visit Uttarakhand. If this happens, this event marking the completion of four years of the Dhami government could prove to be an election trigger in the state.
