Have had enough, party turning back on me, says Harish

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 22

In what could spell trouble for the Congress, veteran leader Harish Rawat on Wednesday posted a series of cryptic tweets baring his anxiety at the state of affairs in the party organisation.

In veiled references to the Gandhis, Rawat said he had had enough and sought divine guidance out of the situation. “I have to swim in the sea of elections and the party organisation instead of supporting me is turning its back on me and playing a negative role in most places,” said Rawat, former Uttarakhand CM and the current party campaign chairman for the election-bound state.

Rawat said the powers that be (read the Gandhis) in the organisation had “unleashed crocodiles in the ocean he was expected to cross”.

“Representatives of the people on whose orders I have to swim across this sea of elections have tied my hands and feet. A thought is repeatedly occurring to me—Harish Rawat, you have had enough, it is time to rest,” said Rawat, who as AICC general secretary in charge oversaw the ouster of Capt Amarinder Singh.

The Congress has not assured Rawat of chief ministership should the party win state elections due early next year. Rahul Gandhi is experimenting with gradual change of guard in major states as he did in poll-bound Punjab by ousting Amarinder and installing Channi as CM.