Setting aside superstition, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami moves into ‘jinxed’ official bungalow

DEHRADUN: While former chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat preferred to stay away from the official residence – which is often referred as "jinxed" – during the four-month tenure, his successor Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday moved into the sprawling bungalow spread across 10 acres at Cantt Road. The myth is that CMs who have stayed in this bungalow have failed to complete their full term.So, the official residence is often referred to as “jinxed and unlucky”.
Prior to the shifting, priests conducted religious rituals. Sources pointed out that some Vastu corrections were also made to "keep the house free from any sort of negative energy".

Tirath, who had the shortest term as CM, did not shift to his official residence and instead wanted to turn it into a "Covid care centre". Despite staying away, Tirath’s tenure lasted for four months.
Soon after taking charge as CM, Dhami had reversed Tirath’s decision. “There is no point in wasting an important resource,” he said.

Designed in a Pahari style, the bungalow, with 60 rooms, was built in 2010. The massive structure, comprising a badminton court, swimming pool, several lawns, separate office for the CM and his team, had cost Rs 16 lakh.
The CMs who have stayed here –– Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Maj General BC Khanduri (retd), Vijay Bahuguna and Trivendra Singh Rawat –– could not complete their full term.
Till date, ND Tiwari is the only CM to have completed the five-year term. Trivendra Singh Rawat was the closest to his tenure as he could complete around four years.

In 2017, defying the “jinx”, Trivendra Singh Rawat had shifted to the bungalow. Trivendra had even held a two-hour pooja, which was attended by a number of his cabinet colleagues, before entering the house.
Nishank was the first CM to enter the house and soon after he had to step down. Thereafter, Vijay Bahuguna, who stayed in the official bungalow, remained CM for less than two years.
After taking charge from Vijay Bahuguna, Harish Rawat had stayed away from the bungalow and operated from Bijapur Guest House, which is barely 500 metres away.