‘No Base, No Vote’: Karnaprayag Villagers Begin 200-km March to Dehradun Over Unfulfilled Hospital Promise…
Just before the 2027 Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s political difficulties appear to be increasing in the Karnaprayag Assembly constituency in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. The BJP has long dominated the Karnaprayag Assembly constituency, but this time, the party is facing opposition from its own people ahead of the elections. Local residents are experiencing widespread anger over the long-pending granting of full-fledged status to Simli Base Hospital, the deployment of teachers in schools in the Nainisain area, and the government’s unfulfilled promises. Following this, villagers have now launched a direct campaign against the government.Under the banner of the Simli Base Hospital Sangharsh Samiti, hundreds of villagers from over 50 villages in the area have declared a do-or-die battle against the government, demanding the full operation of Simli Base Hospital.With the slogan “No base, no vote,” villagers and a large number of women have begun a 200-kilometer long walk from Simli to Dehradun. These protesters are covering approximately 30 to 40 kilometers daily. The protesters plan to reach the capital, Dehradun, on October 20, 2026, and surround the Chief Minister’s residence. The Simli Base Hospital Sangharsh Samiti states that nearly 12 years have passed since the hospital building was constructed, but it has not yet received full-fledged base hospital status and basic healthcare facilities (such as specialist doctors, equipment, and diagnostic facilities). Although Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced its full-fledged status from Gairsain on November 9, 2024, almost two years later, a government mandate (GO) has not yet been issued. Meanwhile, teacher positions in government schools in Nainisain and surrounding areas have remained vacant for a long time. One of the major reasons for migration from the mountains is this level of education, due to which there is huge resentment among the youth and parents.