Former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat pressed ahead on Monday with his 'Dhanyawad evam Jansamvad Yatra' in the state's Kumaon region, openly defying a warning from the Congress leadership to call off the programme.
The yatra's Jaspur-to-Haldwani leg, passing through Kashipur, Ramnagar and Kaladhungi, went ahead as planned despite a strongly worded communication from the party high command objecting to what it described as Rawat's 'personal' outreach organised outside the official party machinery.
Selja's letter and the summons to Delhi
Uttarakhand Congress in-charge Kumari Selja had written to Rawat on October 1, pointing out that the yatra had been discussed neither with her nor with the Pradesh Congress Committee president. Her letter also referred to media reports of controversial statements attributed to the former chief minister, stressed that Assembly elections were due in the state in the coming months, and said a parallel programme would not be in the party's interest.
The friction has now reached the central leadership. Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal has summoned Rawat to Delhi for discussions, with the leadership concerned that solo programmes could disturb the party's coordinated poll preparations, according to reports.
Rawat, however, has shown no sign of backing down. In a series of social media posts, he said the challenge was great but the resolve for Uttarakhand's pride was firm, urging people to join the dialogue for the rights of Devbhoomi. Hours before the Jaspur-Haldwani leg, he said the programme was being held under the Congress flag and spoke of what he called an addiction epidemic gripping the state.
A divide out in the open
The confrontation has exposed the widening rift inside the Uttarakhand Congress. Rawat was kept out of the party's election team nearly a year ahead of the polls, and other factions view his solo move as a setback to preparations. His supporters counter that the outreach is being organised in the larger interest of the Congress.
With the high command adopting a tough stance and Rawat refusing to pause, the standoff looks set to test party unity in the hill state in the months ahead.
Sources: The Economic Times, Daijiworld
The yatra's Jaspur-to-Haldwani leg, passing through Kashipur, Ramnagar and Kaladhungi, went ahead as planned despite a strongly worded communication from the party high command objecting to what it described as Rawat's 'personal' outreach organised outside the official party machinery.
Selja's letter and the summons to Delhi
Uttarakhand Congress in-charge Kumari Selja had written to Rawat on October 1, pointing out that the yatra had been discussed neither with her nor with the Pradesh Congress Committee president. Her letter also referred to media reports of controversial statements attributed to the former chief minister, stressed that Assembly elections were due in the state in the coming months, and said a parallel programme would not be in the party's interest.
The friction has now reached the central leadership. Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal has summoned Rawat to Delhi for discussions, with the leadership concerned that solo programmes could disturb the party's coordinated poll preparations, according to reports.
Rawat, however, has shown no sign of backing down. In a series of social media posts, he said the challenge was great but the resolve for Uttarakhand's pride was firm, urging people to join the dialogue for the rights of Devbhoomi. Hours before the Jaspur-Haldwani leg, he said the programme was being held under the Congress flag and spoke of what he called an addiction epidemic gripping the state.
A divide out in the open
The confrontation has exposed the widening rift inside the Uttarakhand Congress. Rawat was kept out of the party's election team nearly a year ahead of the polls, and other factions view his solo move as a setback to preparations. His supporters counter that the outreach is being organised in the larger interest of the Congress.
With the high command adopting a tough stance and Rawat refusing to pause, the standoff looks set to test party unity in the hill state in the months ahead.
Sources: The Economic Times, Daijiworld
