Harish Rawat Continues Uttarakhand Yatra Despite Congress Objections Ahead of Assembly Polls

Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has decided to continue his public outreach campaign despite objections from the Congress leadership, highlighting growing differences within the party ahead of the state Assembly elections.

Rawat’s Dhanyawad evam Jan Samvad Yatra is being conducted independently of the official Congress organisational programme. The former chief minister began the latest phase from Jaspur in the Kumaon region on October 5, with the programme scheduled to move through Kashipur, Ramnagar and Kaladhungi before reaching Haldwani.

Congress Leadership Raises Concerns

The dispute intensified after Uttarakhand Congress in-charge Kumari Selja objected to Rawat’s decision to organise the yatra without prior coordination with the state party leadership.

In a letter dated October 1, Selja reportedly pointed out that the programme had not been discussed with either her or the Pradesh Congress Committee president. She also referred to concerns over statements attributed to Rawat and argued that the party needed to maintain unity with the Assembly elections approaching.

The Congress leadership’s position is that separate political programmes by senior leaders could interfere with the party’s coordinated election strategy. Selja therefore asked Rawat not to proceed with the proposed activities.

Rawat Signals He Will Not Step Back

Despite the objections, Rawat has continued promoting the yatra and has indicated through social media posts that he intends to proceed with his outreach efforts.

The veteran Congress leader has presented the campaign as an opportunity to interact directly with people in Uttarakhand and raise issues concerning the state. His supporters have described the initiative as an effort to reconnect with the public and strengthen the party ahead of the elections.

The development has placed Rawat’s individual political activity at odds with the Congress organisation’s preference for a unified campaign structure. The disagreement comes at a sensitive time, with the party preparing for the next Assembly contest in the state.

Harish Rawat Called to Delhi

The matter has also reached the Congress central leadership. Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal has summoned Rawat to Delhi amid concerns about his recent political activities and individual yatras in Uttarakhand.

The expected discussions are likely to focus on coordination between Rawat’s public programmes and the party’s broader electoral strategy. The leadership is also seeking greater coordination among senior figures as Congress prepares for the upcoming state polls.

Rawat remains one of the most prominent Congress figures in Uttarakhand, and his continued political outreach carries significance for the party’s election preparations. The latest disagreement, however, exposes the challenge Congress faces in balancing the activities of its senior leaders with a centrally coordinated campaign.

With the elections approaching, how the party leadership and Rawat resolve the issue could have a bearing on Congress’s efforts to present a united political front in Uttarakhand.