After his shocking disappearance in the Tamil Nadu helicopter crash in December, India’s first Chief of Defense Staff, General Bipin Rawat, became the focal point of the BJP and Congress before the elections to the Uttarakhand Assembly.

So much so that there is talk that General Rawat’s youngest daughter Tarini, a lawyer, would likely get a ticket to the BJP. It is not known, however, whether it will accede to the BJP’s request. The push, or more like a rush, to capitalize on the legacy of the late Rawat also indicates greater opposition to the BJP tenure which has seen three chief ministers during the five-year tenure.

Musical chairs do not seem to have worked for the party which is keen to make known the high faith it places in the inhabitants of Uttarakhand. Besides the first CDS, Ajit Doval, the country’s national security adviser, is also from the state and is a key member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s establishment.

The Rawat manifesto is the flavor of this election. All political parties now promise that if they come to power, they will implement the dreams and vision of General Rawat, who died on December 14.

Not only Prime Minister Modi, Interior Minister Amit Shah, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, but also Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Harish Rawat, poll manager for Uttarakhand, discussed the General Rawat’s ideas in their voting speeches.

Even Congress called for Bharat Ratna for the deceased general. Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat had said the late CDS was a symbol of national security and was to be decorated with the Bharat Ratna in a special function. If Congress comes to power, it will implement General Rawat’s ideas, he told the media.

BJP leaders frequently invoke General Rawat’s name to underpin their commitment to the development of Uttarakhand. However, many BJP leaders in Uttarakhand believe that just keeping General Rawat’s name and ideas current during the election will help their cause. They also believed that even when Congress brings up General Rawat in his campaign, the ruling BJP will benefit.

A few days ago, the former chief minister of Uttarakhand, Trivendra Singh Rawat, exclusively told the media that the frequent references to Rawat did not have a political connotation. While other BJP leaders have privately admitted that the party would benefit if the late CDS’s ideas for the state were repeatedly championed during the election campaign.

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The state is estimated to have 2.5 lakh of serving and retired military personnel and widows – a significant voice bank given their power to influence others.

General Rawat was born in Pauri Garhwal district and was interested in the development of the region. He also planned to spend his retirement in Uttarakhand.