Congress high command banks on Harish Rawat n Pritam Singh for party’s victory in 2022 Ukhand assembly polls
After the sad demise of the veteran Congress leader Indira Hridayesh, the Congress party in Uttarakhand will confront a huge void especially in the Kumaon region particularly when the state elections are likely to be held in the initial months of 2022 with the Code of conduct likely to be imposed in November, 21.
The veteran Congress leader who was associated with INC for the last five decades had worked in close proximity with two political stalwarts, former CM Uttar Pradesh n Uttarakhand n union ministers H.N. Bahuguna and ND Tiwari including Vijay Bahuguna n Harish Rawat, being the cabinet minister. Currently she was the leader of opposition in the state assembly.
Primarily having her tremendous stronghold in Haldwani and Udham Singh Nagar, veteran Congress leader Dr. Indira Hridayesh was the tallest leader of Congress in Uttarakhand who died of cardiac arrest in AIIMS Delhi few days back, when she had come to the national capital to attend the meeting with senior Congress leaders and INC Uttarakhand observer Devendra Yadav, in the presence of general secretary AICC n CWC member Harish Rawat n State Congress chief Pritam Singh n other leaders.
This important meeting Washington with regard to hectic preparations of Assembly elections of Uttarakhand.
The INC observer Devendra Yadav had appealed to the trio to forget their past differences and fight this election unitedly.
But unfortunately the veteran woman leader and stalwart of Congress party died of cardiac arrest at the age of 80 sending shock waves in entire Uttarakhand n the party.
Cabinet minister in all the Congress governments of Uttarakhand under the chief ministership of Narayan Dutt Tiwari, Vijay Bahuguna and Harish Rawat, Dr. Indira Hridayesh was the senior most Congresswoman n a firebrand leader of the state having been four time MLC in undivided Uttar Pradesh and four term MLA in Uttarakhand assembly.
Even at the age of 80 she was fully mobile and active and had been usually at loggerheads with former Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat, as he was the greatest impediment in her way to become the state CM. She had been against the proposal of Harish Rawat for declaring the prospective CM of Uttarakhand in advance so as to enable Congress party and it’s rank n file fight the BJP strongly and ferociously thus winning at the hustings.
Dr. Indira Hridayesh had outrightly opposed this demand of Rawat saying that the Congress party has never declared it’s prospective CM n it has always elected its CM after the party gained majority.
As a result,the proposal of Rawat was not entertained and it was unanimously decided to fight the assembly election unitedly pending election of CM after Congress stands victorious and gains majority in the hilly state.
But after the sudden demise of Indira Hridayesh, it is believed that the high command is now completely banking on the charismatic leadership of Harish Rawat being the senior most leader of Uttarakhand holding the national stature as well.
Now the party has two important pillars of Congress in the state viz national general secretary of Congress, CWC member n former CM Harish Rawat and the state Congress chief Pritam Singh who too is at loggerheads with the former.
According to reliable sources, the party high command is now banking on both these leaders to bring Congress victorious at the hustings in 2022 by all means despite the very fact that Punjab too is going to polls in 2022 as is Uttarakhand of which Harish Rawat is the central in-charge n observer.
However, there are indications that the services n political influence of former CM Harish Rawat would be utilised in forthcoming Uttarakhand elections to the fullest now as the void left by Dr. Indira Hridayesh needs to be fulfilled by all means.
The services of Harish Rawat being popular in both Garhwal and Kumaon regions is required in Kumon more after the sad demise of Dr. Indira Hridayesh, who had immense foothold in Haldwani, Udham Singh Nagar n other parts of Kumaon region.
Despite all this, a hard fact cannot been denied that compared to veteran Congress leader Dr. Hridayesh, Harish Rawat is more in demand than the former.
Therefore, the party high command is solely banking on the leadership of Harish Rawat and Pritam Singh. After the death of DR. Indira Hridayesh the political parameters have changed altogether with Harish Rawat getting more attention n leverage than Pritam Singh Rawat as earlier both state Congress chief Pritam Singh and Dr. Hridayesh were together and strong opponents of Rawat having pledged to ensure that he is not given any space in the state politics to spoil his chances to become the next CM of the state in 2022.
Eying on the chief minister’s seat again since long, proactive in state’s politics, since day one, after losing from two assembly seats last time, Harish Rawat seems to have again gained momentum in state’s Congress politics after the sad passing away of Indira Hridayesh with high command wanting him to lead the Congress chariot towards victory in 2022 taking state chief Pritam Singh n entire rank n file in confidence.
What’s your take friends? You invaluable comments are solicited inside the link.
अगले मुख्यमंत्री हरीश रावत बन सकते हैं अगर आज से चुनाव तक कांग्रेस पार्टी में, उत्तराखंड में घमासान नही हुआ तो। क्योंकि चुनाव के समय बहुत उठक पटक होती है और विरोधी दल को इसका फायदा मिलता है। आम आदमी पार्टी भी इस समय अपना दमखम दिखाएगी, उनकी भी दस पंद्रह सीट आ सकती हैं। इनके सहयोग की भी रावतजी को जरूरत पड़ सकती है।
Aap Ki baat Mein kaafi dum Hai.
For any opposition party, in any election in the country today, its important to strengthen its coordination strategy up to the booth level workers and must have a strong face to counter Modi & Shah led BJP who have proved to be election winning heros since the win in 2014 Lok Sabha election. It is possible to the party which doesn’t have any rift within it at the top level or contenders, as Mamata led TMC has done in West Bengal, but unlike it, the Congress in Uttarakhand has very weak position at the aforementioned points, besides incompetency at the central leadership under Sonia & Rahul Gandhi. At the moment, in my opinion, Congress should project Pritam Singh, state president, as face for 2022 elections , who has reasonable clean image, has not deteriorated the image of the party in the state, and a new face would be a good to reason to give an option to the voters. Although avery senior & veteran politician, and close to Gandhi family, Harish Rawat had been tried by the people for a long time and have many reasons to reject him over the BJP under the nationwide charismatic Modi.
Internal conflict and mass exodus of top leaders from INC to BJP during last election has weakened the Congress organization in Uttarakhand, there is not a single politician in UK who can influence voters across assemblies like BC Khanduri so BJP with its organisational strength, money, winnable candidates, nationalist and pro-Hindu narratives, propaganda tools, centre funded projects etc. still has an upper-hand. Until of course some local winnable candidates join or return to congress party. But most of the local leaders prefer contesting independently and not to mentions AAP is also getting considerable support in the State.
Gone through your pivotal views n I fully agree that it the clean face who shuld be projected as the future CM than those who’d already lost from two constituencies while being the caretaker CM. Moreover, Pritam Singh is comparatively young, energetic and politician with blot less image. On the contrary the anti incumbency against saffron party in the state is tremendous that provides a golden opportunity for Congress to stage a come back to power but that certainly does not mean that wrangling within Congress should go on. The time is ripe for Congress to win provided a CM candidate with clean, blotless and comparatively young and energetic image is projected instead of an old horse, already tested and over aged as well. Afterall they should honourably retire giving space to younger politicians but unfortunately in politics the over ambition never ends.
Sunil Negi
Courtesy apart, but no one is indispensable in this mortal world. There is a very old saying Britain,’ The King is dead long live the King. Institution always living. The leader of the party will make the mare go.
I think Har da has that ability to unite. He can keep the viability intact. He should give chance to new leaders having acceptable hold on mandate.
No foolishness will be accepted by voters this time.
However it doesn’t matter as to how many parties are contesting but subtle and plausible talks will fetch result.