Bickering in Uttarakhand Congress comes to fore again with Harish Rawat and Pritam Singh again on collision course

The squabbles between Uttarakhand Congress leaders have once again come to the fore and they are the same old ones who have been fighting with each other for the last several years, losing badly in Uttarakhand again at the hands of BJP for the second consecutive time. The factionalism within Uttarakhand Congress between former CM Harish Rawat and former state chief and opposition leader Pritam Singh is not a new story but what makes Congressmen more worried now is the fact that despite losing Uttarakhand at the hands of BJP, so badly, both these leaders and warring factions have not learnt lessons, instead have become more vociferous against each other with no fear of the central High command of possible consequences.

The fresh bickering is with regard to the accusation of Pritam Singh against Rawat holding him solely responsible for the party’s debacle saying that he should take the responsibility of Congress’s defeat on him who had himself lost from Lalquan and earlier from two assembly constituencies including losing from Udham Singh parliamentary seat as well by a huge margin. The former CM and chief election strategist Rawat who is still active in Uttarakhand politics strongly responded to these charges saying that since the last 5, 6 years these detractors of his, had been accusing him of baseless charges defaming him publicly. He asked , in Haridwar and other constituencies there had been reports of Congress leaders working against their own candidates. I have worked relentlessly for their triumph. It can be enquired from anyone in Haridwar. I have won from Almora, Haridwar and given a strong fight from Udham Singh Nagar despite all odds. Where ever, I go in wedding n social gatherings there is a pre strategic campaign against me holding me responsible for the party’s defeat whereas the fact remains that I have worked hard and tirelessly during elections to ensure the victory of Congress. I get reports that he is Harish Rawat who led to party’s defeat. My problem is that I am being labelled as a leader leading to party’s debacle n being compelled to take it’s responsibility on my head. He further asked if these leaders are so strong then why did Congress lost this, time bringing small number of seats. This unambiguously explains that the Congress leaders have worked against its own candidates leading to party’s defeat. His bete noire Pritam Singh says that his charges are baseless as the party has won on 18 seats this, time seven seats more than before ( 2017), which clearly demonstrate that there was no dissidence in the party. In his Facebook post Rawat has catagorically asked as to why should he take the responsibility on his head as it should be the cumulative responsibility of Uttarakhand Congress. However, I took the responsibility for the defeat singularly showing a brave heart but my detractors are constantly trying to defame me putting the blame for the party’s debacle on me thus, running a sinister campaign. Till now it has been observed that despite the party’s debacle in Uttarakhand the factions of Harish Rawat and Pritam Singh hold separate protest demonstrations on various issues with party’s present chief Karan Mahara, related to Rawat finding himself in somewhat complex situation.