Stories
Harish Rawat: Why is the former CM on a different path today, after pulling the government from BJP's jaws 10 years ago?
- •All is not well within Uttarakhand Congress, with former CM Harish Rawat distancing himself from party leadership.
- •Rawat is organizing programs independently without informing state Congress leadership, drawing objection from Kumari Selja.
- •In 2016, Harish Rawat saved his government from BJP's clutches, fighting up to the Supreme Court and restoring it in 46 days.
- •Rawat's 'Dhanyawad Evam Jansamvad Yatra' is being conducted without coordination with the party organization, raising concerns.
- •Rawat's actions aim to strengthen his political base and define his role before elections, with no concrete indication of leaving Congress.
Key Questions Answered
In March 2016, following a rebellion by nine Congress MLAs and the imposition of President's Rule, Harish Rawat fought the case up to the Supreme Court. A court-supervised floor test was conducted on May 10, 2016, where Rawat secured 33 votes out of 61 effective votes, allowing him to return to the Chief Minister's chair after 46 days.
State in-charge Kumari Selja and general secretary KC Venugopal raised objections because Harish Rawat started his Dhanyawad Evam Jansamvad Yatra without consulting or coordinating with the state Congress leadership or president. The party is concerned that parallel programs close to the assembly elections could damage organizational unity.
No, Harish Rawat denied media reports claiming he resigned from the party, affirming that Congress membership is in his blood and bones. He clarified that he only expressed a willingness to step down from specific organizational posts if ED raids on his former associate affected the party's anti-corruption narrative.
