Will lead Congress poll campaign in Uttarakhand, says Harish Rawat

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 24

Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Friday said he would lead the Congress campaign committee in the upcoming Assembly elections in the state.

Leadership’s decision supreme

We put our problems before the leadership and accept whatever decisions are taken by them. Kadam kadam badhaye ja, Congress ke geet gaye ja (Keep marching ahead together, sings paeans to Congress). — Harish Rawat, Uttarakhand Ex-CM

He said this after having met party leader Rahul Gandhi in the presence of Congress general secretary KC Venugopal.

The meeting took place two days after Rawat accused the state party organisation of not co-operating with him.

“All have understood what I had in my heart. I will lead the party’s campaign in the Uttarakhand elections. The CM will be decided later. Everyone will cooperate,” Rawat said after the meeting.

Asked whether or not a decision on the Chief Minister had been taken if the party came to power, Rawat said it would be decided later.

“The decision on who will be the Chief Minister is taken after the legislative party holds a meeting and conveys its view to the Congress president. The decision is taken by the Congress president and and it is heartily accepted by all Congress workers,” said the ex-CM.

Earlier, Rawat had indicated that he wanted to contest the upcoming Uttarakhand polls, but his hands were tied. “Instead of cooperating, the organisational structure at most places is turning its face away or playing a negative role,” Rawat had tweeted.

The leadership had then called the senior leader to Delhi to discuss the matter. It now appears that the party has managed to pacify the veteran leader.

Gandhi also met AICC in-charge of Uttarakhand Devendra Yadav, with whom Rawat is reportedly not getting along well, and several other leaders, including Rajya Sabha member Pradeep Tamta, Congress Legislature Party leader Pritam Singh, Yashpal Arya and former state unit chief Kishore Upadhyay.

It was made clear in the meeting that Congress president Sonia Gandhi will take a decision on who would be the Chief Minister after the elections if the party bags majority.

“We had a very successful meeting,” Yadav said and mentioned about the decision on the chief ministerial face.

Godiyal said an atmosphere as required by Rawat would be created and everyone would support him.

Uttarakhand goes to polls early next year and the Congress is trying to return to power in the hill state.