Harish Rawat, former chief minister of Uttarakhand and veteran Congress leader, is no stranger to rebellion against his party.
Rawat’s viral tweet that the party organisation is non-cooperative in the run up to the state elections, is seen as an open call against the Congress top leadership. However, this is the same politician who, in 2012, openly defied the party’s choice of Vijay Bahuguna as the chief minister of Uttarakhand, alleging that the party had denied him his due role. It almost led to a split in the party. He had earlier also opposed the appointment of Narayan Dutt Tiwari as CM.
“The party did not do justice to me”, he had announced. Several Uttarakhand MLAs had agreed with him and boycotted Bahuguna’s swearing-in ceremony.
This time round though the party is out to placate the former chief minister.
Uttarakhand Congress chief Harish Godiyal said, “His concerns are genuine. They will be discussed at a party meeting in Delhi.”
Godiyal though refused to specify what these concerns are. He only said that the party workers were being non-cooperative, and this was a matter of concern. He also refused to comment on whether Rawat’s defiance will impact the party’s prospects in the upcoming elections. He also denied speculation that Rawat might jump ship before the elections.
“Isn't it strange that the organisational structure at most places, instead of extending a helping hand, is… playing a negative role at a time when I have to swim across the ocean of elections," Rawat had tweeted.
State BJP spokesperson Bipin Kainthola said that Rawat’s discontent stemmed from the fact that while he was the leader with the greater mass appeal, the party had chosen to appoint Godiyal as the chief.
“He places himself over the party and is always drawing attention to himself,” Kainthola said.
Congress insiders say that Rawat is creating pressure to ‘blackmail’ his party. It helps that Godiyal’s popularity is not a patch on Rawat’s.
All recent poll-related surveys in the state have something to do with Rawat’s sense of importance.
“Surveys put Rawat at the Centre. Congress means Rawat, Rawat means the Congress. He is taking advantage of that perception fact,” said a Congressman.
If the BJP is fighting the election on the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rawat wants to fight the elections on his name and image. The Congress cannot afford to lose him at this critical juncture.
“Local for vocal”, is how Kainthola describes it.
In political terms, Rawat has chosen the perfect time to rebel against his party.
His party colleagues describe him as unpredictable. “There is no saying what he says, what he means”.
It will however not be long before his true intentions are revealed.
