Uttarakhand Education Minister and the state’s well-known organisational strategist, Dhan Singh Rawat, has consistently earned the confidence of the BJP’s central leadership to manage parts of its election campaigns in poll-bound states across the country. His organisational capabilities have delivere dpositive results in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, parts of West Bengal, and other states.
In a candid conversation with Prithviraj Singh, Rawat explains why the BJP is confident of winning the 2027 state Assembly elections and how the government can be credited with the state’s achievements in education and other sectors. Q: Uttarakhand has reached election year. Do you think the BJP will be able to repeat its past two performances? A: Yes, the BJP will secure a third consecutive term in the 2027 Assembly elections. The people of Uttarakhand have always supported nationalist forces and political parties.
They have been comparing the Congress party’s 60 years in power with the BJP’s 15-year tenure, particularly since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office. It is a well-known fact that infrastructure projects worth Rs 2 lakh crore are currently underway in Uttarakhand. The double-engine government is providing free education, the BPL Antyodaya ration scheme, the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, and several other social welfare schemes across every nook and corner of the state.
The BJP government has outperformed previous governments in delivering welfare schemes to the people. The people of Uttarakhand witnessed widespread corruption during the Congress rule, leaving them with little reason to return the party to power. It is premature to predict the exact number of seats at this stage, but the BJP appears well-positioned to secure a comfortable victory.
Q: Don’t you carry the burden of anti-incumbency?
A: Over the last four years, around 20 lakh people in Uttarakhand have received free health cards. Today, tap water connections have reached almost every household in the state. Schools are available in every block, and there are no school dropouts in the state.
Q: It is being said that elections may be held earlier to avoid a clash with the Kumbh festival, which is scheduled to take place in January 2027. Do you think it would be appropriate to advance the polling date?
A: Although this is a matter for the Election Commission of India, I do not see any compelling reason to advance the dates. The Kumbh festival primarily affects Haridwar, and that too only from January 2027 onwards. Advancing the election dates is unlikely, as four other states will also have to go to the polls simultaneously.
Q: The Uttarakhand government has also begun taking bulldozer action. Do you think this is an appropriate approach for the government to adopt?
A : Illegal constr uctions and encroachments on government land will have to be cleared, and it is the responsibility of the government to do so. Illegal constructions must be dismantled. It is not true that people oppose b ulldozer drives against illegal constructions and encroachments on forest and government land. On the contrary, the public has always supported anti-encroachment drives. The massive anti-encroachment action and demolition of illegal constructions carried out by the General B C Khanduri government in Dehradun received widespread public support. There is no alternative to using bulldozers against illegal constructions.
Q: Now Uttarakhand has declared itself a state with 98.7 per cent literacy. How was this possible? Do you think we’re better positioned in terms of having higher education government institutions?
A: We have achieved a literacy rate of 98.5 per cent in Uttarakhand. According to the Government of India’s standards, Uttarakhand is now a fully literate state, as the state Cabinet has already ratified it. Today, Uttarakhand ranks among the top three most literate states in the country. The remaining 1.5 per cent literacy target will be achieved within the next year through a statewide campaign. As for higher education, Uttarakhand has IIT Roorkee, an IIM, an NIT, two AIIMS, 12 government universities, 32 private universities, a government-run Institute of Hotel Management, and a host of other renowned institutions. Relative to its population, Uttarakhand has the highest Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education in the country at 48 per cent, compared with the national GER of 28.4 per cent. According to the Union government’s target, the national GER is expected to reach 50 per cent by 2045, but Uttarakhand is expected to achieve that milestone by the end of this year.
Q: The opening of an NLU has become a major issue in Uttarakhand now, as the plan has been pending for several years.
A: Uttarakhand’s proposed National Law University will be constructed at the designated site. The delay was mainly due to the lack of adequate land required for the university as per prescribed norms. There was a shortage of three to four acres of land at the location identified for the NLU in Doiwala, Dehradun. Efforts are underway to arrange the required land and begin construction.
Q: What change do you look for in the education system for minorities in Uttarakhand after the Madarsa Board has been abolished?
A: The abolition of the State Madarsa Board aims to streamline the minority education system in the state. It will specifically help track students studying in madrasas, their places of origin, and the facilities being provided to them. It will now be mandatory for all minority educational institutions to register with the State Education Board and the newly constituted authority for minority educational institutions. Besides the mandatory recitation of Vande Mataram in madrasas, these institutions will also provide education in conventional subjects, including languages, mathematics, and sciences, along with religious studies. This will help minority students gain admission to reputed higher education institutions, as they will be studying under the State Education Board. The move will also help madrasa students broaden their perspectives beyond a limited understanding shaped by orthodox religious ideology