What would happen to a party in a particular state whose star campaigner has been side-lined to retain an average or a non-performing asset? Undoubtedly, the party will meet its end in the state. And Congress party is heading towards the same fate in the poll-bound state of Uttarakhand after backstabbing its star campaigner Harish Rawat.
Harish Rawat failed by his own party
Reportedly, the star campaigner of Congress party Harish Rawat will contest the upcoming assembly election from the Lalkuan constituency in the Nanital district instead of Ramnagar.
It is pertinent to note that Harish Rawat’s seat has been changed even though he was adamant about contesting from Ramnagar.
Read more: How Congress ensured its complete decimation in both Punjab and Uttarakhand at one go
Harish Rawat is the only credible face left for Congress in Uttarakhand. Instead of judiciously utilizing Harish’s productivity, Congress has ensured that Rawat’s credibility is lost among party workers.
Mr Rawat himself recognizes the fact that he is the last hope for Congress in the state. Seeing Punjab already drifting towards BJP-led NDA, Harish Rawat has pressed the panic button to at least save the INC’s face in Uttarakhand.
Burden of Punjab for Rawat despite love for Uttarakhand
One cannot deny the fact that Harish Rawat enjoys massive popularity in Uttarakhand. Congress’ earlier rule in the state can be attributed to the star campaigner. Despite this, he was appointed as Punjab-in-charge to solve the crisis caused due to differences between Captain Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu.
He had asked several times to be relieved from his Punjab duties. Stressing that Uttarakhand is his Janmabhoomi, and Punjab is his Karmabhoomi, he had said that he cannot do justice to Punjab until he is satisfied with his service to Uttarakhand.
Read more: Harish Rawat – Congress’ sacrificial lamb this election season
Harish returned to his home state with lost respect. His legacy has been shattered due to Punjab failure. No one is willing to listen to him. His words go unheard with junior cadres. Adding to his misery, Congress top brass has provided him with incompetent people to work with. Rawat had even made some tweets in frustration, signalling that he could start his own party.
Infights in the party
A few days ahead of the Uttarakhand assembly elections, the Congress appears to have forgotten its aim to win the state. The intense infighting, backstabbing and betrayal within factions to establish supremacy is quite evident.
Though the party has released two lists of candidates in an attempt to keep all factions happy, it has failed to take advantage of Harish Rawat’s popularity in the state. His ticket to contest from Ramnagar has been given to his sworn enemy, Ranjit Rawat.
The first big signs of internal rifts were visible when a sulking Harish Rawat, in a series of tweets on December 22, said that his “hands are tied” and “he has been ignored”.
Later, Harak Singh Rawat jumped ships and started knocking on the Congress’s doors, to join the party along with his daughter-in-law Anukriti Gusain in Delhi. As per the sources, Harish Rawat did not want Harak and his daughter-in-law to join the party, but the work was done by Ganesh Godhiyal and Pritam Singh.
BJP is already strong in Uttarakhand
In Uttarakhand, after successive changings of Chief Ministers, BJP seems to have finally set its house in order in the state. Pushkar Singh Dhami’s actions to weed out the false notions of secularism from Uttarakhand have been extremely popular. Moreover, the state government’s recent actions on illegal Muslim immigrants and land-jihad have been equally popular among the people of the state, as well.
Now, the question is what will be the repercussions of this persistent infighting in Uttarakhand? Well, the internal feuds are now in the public domain and voters are aware that the party is divided. Thus, it will cost a huge loss in the number of votes and the party will soon witness its end in the hilly state.