Yamunotri is heading towards its sixth Assembly election with healthcare, education, roads, employment and the development of Yamunotri Dham emerging as major political issues. Independent MLA Sanjay Dobhal, who won the seat after rebelling against Congress in 2022, is seeking to defend his position amid dissatisfaction voiced by several residents.

The seat falls in Uttarkashi district and is associated with Yamunotri Dham, mountain villages, agriculture, border areas and the pilgrroute. It has not traditionally remained with one political party. Since Uttarakhand’s formation, Congress, the BJP, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal and an independent candidate have all won the constituency.

Residents interviewed in the ground report raised concerns about hospitals, transport, higher education and stalled development. Some said the area would benefit from having a BJP MLA in government, arguing that a ruling-party representative could raise local demands more effectively and bring better budgets and development work.

Healthcare and roads remain key concerns

Dobhal said he contested the 2022 election on healthcare, education, employment and self-employment issues. He alleged that the Yamuna Valley continues to face a shortage of specialist doctors and that government assurances have not resulted in specialists staying permanently in the area.

According to Dobhal, MBBS doctors are available in Barkot, Khadi, Hanuman Chatti, Chinyalisaur and Banchwara, but specialist doctors are not available at these locations. He also said several roads are held up because of Forest Department no-objection certificates and National Green Tribunal standards.

The MLA said the government had not given enough attention to self-employment opportunities connected with Yamunotri Dham. He said work on the ropeway restarted 2 and a half years ago but remains stalled. He also pointed to work on a college building, polytechnic building and hostel in Chinyalisaur and Barkot.

Dobhal claimed that asphalt work and new construction would be completed on around 40 to 50 roads in the Yamunotri constituency before the election. These are claims about planned or ongoing work and were not independently verified in the material available for this report.

Former MLA challenges Dobhal’s record

BJP leader and former MLA Kedar Singh Rawat said he had represented Yamunotri twice and was not satisfied with Dobhal’s tenure. Rawat claimed that roads, education, healthcare, electricity and drinking water received attention during his own terms in office.

He also claimed that health facilities improved during his tenure in Chinyalisaur and Barkot. His stated work included construction of community health centre buildings, doctor appointments, ultrasound services, digital X-ray facilities, intensive care beds, dental care and ambulances.

Rawat alleged that there had been no significant progress in basic infrastructure, including roads, education, healthcare, electricity and water, during Dobhal’s tenure. His assessment is a political criticism rather than an established finding in the available material.

Local resident Kishan Chauhan said hospitals were in poor condition and that the constituency lacked a medical college and a university. He said no major development project had been visible in the area during the last 7 years and called for a young, new face to work on roads, higher education and healthcare.

Mahavir Panwar also said residents wanted change and were looking for an emerging young representative who could give Yamunotri a new direction. Kumar described the proposed Mission Yamunotri district, the redevelopment of Yamunotri Dham and a master plan on the lines of Kedarnath as long-pending issues.

Kumar also sought a ring road or bypass to address traffic congestion in Barkot. Amit Rawat said he wanted the BJP to form the government in 2027 and the party to win Yamunotri, arguing that a ruling-party MLA could raise the constituency’s problems more effectively.

Party moves may reshape the contest

The political contest is also changing because of movement between parties. Deepak Bijalwan, who contested Yamunotri for Congress in 2022, has joined the BJP and received a significant responsibility in the party.

Bijalwan has previously been associated with NSUI and Youth Congress and served as president of the Uttarkashi district panchayat. His entry gives the BJP a prominent face in Yamunotri, although the report also says that some older BJP leaders are unhappy about his growing political influence.

At the same time, there is speculation that Kedar Singh Rawat could return to Congress. Rawat won Yamunotri for the BJP in 2017 after leaving Congress, but he had earlier been an MLA on a Congress ticket in 2007. His earlier association with Congress has added weight to discussion about a possible return, although no return has been confirmed in the available material.

For Dobhal, the next election will test whether he can repeat his 2022 victory as an independent candidate. For the BJP and Congress, the contest will also be shaped by Bijalwan’s new role, Rawat’s possible return and public demands over hospitals, roads, education, transport and the master plan for Yamunotri Dham.

Conclusion

Yamunotri’s 2027 contest is likely to centre on the independent MLA’s record, demands for healthcare and infrastructure, and changing party alignments. The master plan for Yamunotri Dham, stalled projects and local calls for better representation remain key issues for voters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Who is the current MLA from Yamunotri?

Sanjay Dobhal is the independent MLA from Yamunotri. He won the seat in 2022 after rebelling against Congress and contesting as an independent candidate.

Q. Which issues are central to the Yamunotri election discussion?

Healthcare, education, employment, roads, transport, electricity, drinking water and the development of Yamunotri Dham are central issues.

Q. What healthcare shortage has Sanjay Dobhal highlighted?

Dobhal said MBBS doctors are available in several locations, but specialist doctors are not available in Barkot, Khadi, Hanuman Chatti, Chinyalisaur and Banchwara.

Q. What is the status of the Yamunotri ropeway mentioned in the report?

Dobhal said the ropeway work restarted 2 and a half years ago but remains stalled.

Q. What master plan are local residents seeking?

Kumar described a master plan for Yamunotri Dham on the lines of Kedarnath as a long-pending demand.

Q. Who is Deepak Bijalwan?

Deepak Bijalwan contested Yamunotri for Congress in 2022, later joined the BJP and received a significant responsibility in the party. He has also served as president of the Uttarkashi district panchayat.

Q. Why is Kedar Singh Rawat’s name important in the contest?

Rawat was elected from Yamunotri for the BJP in 2017 and had earlier been a Congress MLA in 2007. His possible return to Congress is being discussed, but it has not been confirmed.

Q. What road project has been demanded for Barkot?

Kumar has called for a ring road or bypass to reduce traffic congestion in Barkot.