Rawat Defies Congress High Command, Continues Uttarakhand Yatra Despite Warning

Senior Congress leader and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Monday defied a direct warning from the party high command and continued his 'Uttarakhand Bachao Yatra' across the hill state. The yatra, which began last week, has been seen as a show of strength by Rawat amid growing speculation of a leadership change in the state unit ahead of the 2022 assembly elections.

The Congress high command had reportedly asked Rawat to postpone the yatra, citing the need for party unity and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, Rawat, a veteran leader and currently the party's campaign committee chief in Uttarakhand, chose to press ahead, stating that the yatra was aimed at highlighting the failures of the BJP government in the state. Sources indicate that Rawat is unhappy with the party's decision to project another leader as the chief ministerial face, and his defiance is being viewed as a direct challenge to the central leadership.

The development has exposed deep fissures within the Uttarakhand Congress, with factions loyal to Rawat and those aligned with the high command trading barbs. The party's central leadership now faces a tough task: enforcing discipline without triggering a full-scale rebellion that could damage its prospects in the upcoming polls. Political analysts suggest that the episode could have national ramifications, as other regional satraps may take a cue from Rawat's defiance. The Congress has so far refrained from taking any disciplinary action, but all eyes are on how the high command handles this latest internal crisis.