Former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat on Monday proceeded with his public outreach campaign despite Congress state in-charge Kumari Selja asking him not to hold the programme, with the move highlighting growing differences within the party ahead of next year’s assembly elections.
Rawat began the latest leg of his ‘Dhanyawad evam Jansamvad Yatra’ from Jaspur in Udham Singh Nagar and is travelling towards Haldwani. The programme is scheduled to pass through Kashipur, Ramnagar and Kaladhungi before reaching Haldwani.
Selja raises concerns over parallel programme
Selja had written to Rawat asking him not to proceed with the campaign, saying the programme had neither been discussed with her nor with the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee president.
She also referred to reports about certain controversial statements allegedly made by Rawat recently. With assembly elections due in the state in the next few months, Selja said the Congress needed to present a united front and argued that a parallel programme at this stage would not be in the party’s interest.
Rawat nevertheless went ahead with the campaign. In a Facebook post announcing his schedule, he said the challenge before Uttarakhand was significant but asserted that his resolve to uphold the pride of the state remained firm.
“Rise, move forward... we have to bring change in the state and bring Congress back!” Rawat wrote, urging people from Jaspur to Haldwani to meet him, engage in dialogue and take forward the fight for the rights of Devbhoomi.
Congress leadership seeks coordination
The disagreement comes as the Congress prepares to intensify its political activities in Uttarakhand ahead of the assembly elections. Rawat remains an influential Congress figure in the state, but his individual outreach programmes have caused concern among sections of the party leadership.
Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal has now summoned Rawat to Delhi amid concerns over his recent political activities and individual yatras. The meeting is expected to focus on party unity and coordinating his programmes with the organisation’s electoral strategy.
Reports said Rawat’s independent activities have also added to tensions within the state unit, with some party leaders viewing parallel programmes as a potential setback to coordinated election preparations. His supporters, however, maintain that the outreach is aimed at strengthening the Congress and maintaining direct contact with voters.
Rawat has also recently stepped up his political activity in the state, with his outreach coming as the Congress seeks to regain ground after its defeat in the 2022 assembly election.
Congress seeks return after 2022 defeat
The Bharatiya Janata Party returned to power in Uttarakhand in 2022, winning 47 of the 70 assembly seats. The Congress was reduced to 19 seats, ending the pattern of the two parties alternating in power every five years.
With the next assembly election approaching, the Congress is seeking to intensify its activities and present a united campaign. Rawat’s decision to continue with his yatra despite Selja’s appeal, however, has brought internal differences into sharper focus.