Understanding the popular resentment against the ‘corrupt’ Pokhariyal regime, the BJP turned to its trusted soldier BC Khanduri. Known as ‘Mr Clean’, Khanduri has a huge task at hand in reinvigorating the party cadre and salvaging the party’s sagging image in the state.

It was Khanduri who had led the party to victory in the 2007 Assembly elections and was subsequently chosen as the Chief Minister. However, he was booted out after the party performed poorly in the 2009 general election. Marred with internal dissent, amid the growing ‘Remove Khanduri’ chorus, he quit taking responsibility for the poll debacle.

Now back in the saddle, Khanduri has been proactive in trying to win the battle of perception. Not shying away from taking solid steps, Khanduri enacted two landmark anti-graft bills.