While Pritam, Yashpal, Godiyal had already refused to contest, today Harish Rawat too said “no” from Haridwar , wanting a ticket for his son ?
The Uttarakhand Congress seems to be in real mess and jeopardy. While on the one hand the inspirational leader of Congress party the Nehru Gandhi scion Rahul Gandhi is busy in his 4000 kilometres Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra exposing the ruling party on various fronts and India National Developmental Inclusive Alliance making all efforts to pose direct challenge to Narendra Modi led NDA government enticing tremendous crowds, in Uttarakhand Himalayan state, majority of the senior Congress leaders viz former chief minister Harish Rawat, eight times MLA from Chakrata n former minister n leader opposition Pritam Singh, former minister Yashpal Rawat and former state chief Ganesh Godiyal have refused to contest the parliamentary elections from different parliamentary constituencies. This is probably first time that the leaders of Congress in any state are refusing to contest despite ticket at their doors , obviously giving a clear indication either about their losing the parliamentary elections at the hands of BJP or Modi’s victory juggernaut or don’t want to spend large budget knowing pretty well of their possible defeats.
This in a way is a strong boost for the saffron party which if wins on all five parliamentary seats in Uttarakhand would be scoring a hatrick as the BJP has won on all Uttarakhand parliamentary seats since the last ten years.
Meanwhile, the Congress leader Manish Khanduri who had lost from Pauri parliamentary seat in 2019 against Tirath Singh Rawat and was active in Uttarakhand Congress but demoralised has given yet another jolt to the 135 year old party in Uttarakhand by quitting it, likely to join BJP where his father, former CM of Uttarakhand B.C.Khanduri and sister Ritu Khanduri are already active. Ritu is the speaker of Uttarakhand Assembly while Retired Major General BC Khanduri is not that active but is in BJP very much.
Though former Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat has expressed his unwillingness to contest from Haridwar despite his name very much being in number one position in the list , he is worried about his son Anand Singh Rawat who according to him should get the party ticket. Rawat says that if his son gets the ticket he will leave no stone unturned to ensure his victory. In Haridwar lots of posters, banners and bill boards of Anand Singh Rawat were already put to propagate his name and Harish Rawat is desirous that instead of him, his son gets the ticket from Haridwar to carry forward his political legacy, though he also said that if the party decides on another name he will be ready to accept him or her.
It may be recalled that the daughter of Harish Rawat has already won from Haridwar rural seat in 2022 assembly elections and is an MLA from here.
Rawat’s wife too had contested the parliament election earlier from Haridwar seat but has lost.
There are reports that health and old age may be reason behind Rawat’s rejection to contest from Haridwar but political analysts say that he and other Congress leaders in Uttarakhand are apprehensive of losing this time n that’s the reason they aren’t interested to contest.
If this really true then the BJP has every reason for merry making and winning in all seats hands down for the third consecutive time.
