Uttarakhand Assembly polls: Harish Rawat says he will lead Congress campaign

Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Friday said he will lead the party’s Assembly election campaign in the state, The Indian Express reported. Rawat made the statement after a meeting with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Two days earlier, the former Uttarakhand chief minister had accused the Congress’ central leadership of leaving him alone to deal with certain matters related to the state. In a series of tweets, he also said that he was in a dilemma about whether it was time for him “to take rest”.

However, after the meeting with Gandhi on Friday, Rawat said that his hands were “no longer tied”, NDTV reported.

“I am completely satisfied,” he said. “The high command has told me that the Uttarakhand election will be contested under my leadership. We all must be united.”

Rawat, however, did not make any specific statement about the party’s chief ministerial face in the elections, which is expected to be held early next year.

“In Congress, after the election is completed, legislature party meets to decide their leader,” the former chief minister said, according to ANI. “They send their recommendation to Congress president and then the president decides who will lead the legislature party.”

Rawat said that the party will follow the same process in Uttarakhand as well.

“Kadam kadam badhaye ja, Congress ke geet gaye ja [Keep marching…

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