2 hrs ago
Harish Rawat Defies Congress Warning, Continues Uttarakhand Yatra
Harish Rawat is a senior Congress leader in Uttarakhand.
He decided to continue a public outreach trip, called a yatra, even though party leaders asked him not to hold it.
Kumari Selja said he had not discussed the trip with her or the state party leadership.
She worried that it could make Congress look divided before the 2027 election.
Rawat said the trip would help Congress and Uttarakhand, and that he would not stop.
The Jaspur-to-Haldwani leg began on Monday and was planned to travel through several towns.
A Rawat supporter said local party workers were joining and the public response was strong.
A Congress leader said a separate programme could send the wrong message about unity.
Former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat continued his Jan Samvad, or Dhanyawad evam Jansamvad, Yatra despite a warning from Congress leadership.
Congress leader and Uttarakhand in-charge Kumari Selja wrote to Rawat on October 1, saying the programme had not been discussed with her or state party leaders.
Selja argued that a separate programme could weaken the party’s effort to present a united front ahead of the 2027 Assembly election.
Rawat said there was “no stopping now” and described the outreach as a campaign for Uttarakhand and to bring Congress back to power.
The Jaspur-to-Haldwani leg began at 11.30 am and was scheduled to pass through Kashipur, Ramnagar and Kaladhungi.
- Who
- Harish Rawat, former Uttarakhand chief minister, and Congress leaders including Kumari Selja.
- What
- Rawat continued his public outreach yatra despite a request from Congress leadership to stop it.
- Where
- The yatra leg ran from Jaspur toward Haldwani in Uttarakhand, with stops planned in Kashipur, Ramnagar and Kaladhungi.
- When
- The Jaspur-to-Haldwani leg began on Monday at 11.30 am; Selja's letter was dated October 1. Uttarakhand's Assembly election is due in February 2027.
- Why
- Rawat said the outreach was intended to engage with people and help bring Congress back to power; party leaders objected that an independent programme could undermine unity.
Supporters of Rawat's Yatra
Congress Leadership's Concerns
Whether the yatra helps the party
Supporters of Rawat's Yatra
A Rawat-aligned party office-bearer said the outreach was intended to strengthen Congress ahead of the election and that local workers were participating.
Congress Leadership's Concerns
Congress leaders said a separate programme could make the party appear divided and harm efforts to present a united front.
Whether Rawat should proceed
Supporters of Rawat's Yatra
Rawat continued the programme and described it as public dialogue and a campaign for Uttarakhand and Congress.
Congress Leadership's Concerns
Selja said the programme had not been discussed with her or state party leaders and asked Rawat not to go ahead.
Key facts
- Yatra name
- Reported as the Jan Samvad Yatra and the Dhanyawad evam Jansamvad Yatra.
- Route
- Jaspur to Haldwani via Kashipur, Ramnagar and Kaladhungi.
- Start time
- 11.30 am on Monday.
- Congress warning
- Kumari Selja wrote to Rawat on October 1, asking him not to proceed.
- Election
- Uttarakhand Assembly election due in February 2027.
- Party positions
- A Rawat-aligned office-bearer said the yatra would strengthen Congress; an AICC leader said a parallel programme could make the party appear divided.
Quotes
Harish Rawat
Former Uttarakhand chief minister promoting the yatra
“The state elections are to be held in the next few months, and the party must put up a united front. You will appreciate that any such parallel programme at this juncture will not be in the interest of the party. You may therefore not go ahead with these programmes.”
thestatesman.com
indianexpress.com
“When there are other party programmes being run ahead of the polls, any such parallel programme by Rawat sends a message to the public that the Congress is a divided house in Uttarakhand. That is not in the interest of the party.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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