Senior Uttarakhand leader Harak Singh Rawat has been taken aback by his expulsion from BJP. He was not expecting this action by the party “so suddenly”. The party expelled him even before he could plan something concrete for the future.
The party had already assessed the political fallout before taking this action against Harak Singh Rawat. Thus the BJP also sent out the message that it was sure of returning to power in Uttarakhand.
It’s for the first time in his three-decade long political career that Harak Singh Rawat is facing a situation where he could not finalise a deal with any political party before his exit. Whenever such a situation arose earlier, Harak used to have a plan ready before switching sides. He may be eyeing Congress as his next destination, but it will not be easy for him to join the party.
Sources said the possibility of Harak Singh Rawat’s return of to Congress has divided the party’s state unit. Congress Campaign Committee chief Harish Rawat is said to be opposed to the reinduction of the former BJP minister into the party. Sources said that the former Uttarakhand CM has apprised the party high command of his view. He is learnt to have conveyed to the high command that the “2016 situation” should be revisited before welcoming Harak back. Harish Rawat may get side-lined if Harak is re-inducted in the party, as Pritam Singh’s position in the Congress will be strengthened.
Harish Rawat’s camp this time is opposed to the return of former Congress leaders to the party. Even since Harish Rawat took charge as campaign committee head, he carried out organisational changes that suit his plans. He got Ganesh Godiyal appointed as PCC chief and Pritam Singh was made CLP leader.
Harish Rawat’s condition was that no former Congress leader would be taken back by the party. The state unit is divided on this issue.
Former PCC chief Pritam Singh and his supporters started reaching out to the former party leaders in the BJP who wanted to return. They ensured reinduction of Yashpal Arya and his son into the party. State in charge Devender Yadav started meddling in state party affairs at the behest of Delhi leaders. As a result, Rawat’s adversaries started backing Yadav, and a strategy to side-line the former CM was prepared so that a leader of their choice could be appointed CM if Congress forms government.
Harak Singh Rawat was believed to be fit for this strategy, as he is considered to have detailed inputs and knowledge about mining and land in the state. There is no denying that mining, land, forest and liquor mafias are having a field day in Uttarakhand.
Aware of this political move by his rivals, Harish Rawat had tweeted a cryptic message, spoiling the plans of Delhi leaders. Rawat also made everything clear to the high command in a meeting after this.
Harish’s media advisor Surendra Agrawal had even accused state in charge Devender Yadav of being “involved in some dubious deal”. After being assured of leading the campaign, Harish Rawat started taking decisions on his own.
Former party president Kishore Upadhyaya’s wings were clipped. Sources said that Godiyal, who was made PCC chief by Harish, also joined the camp close to Devender Yadav. Harak was in touch with these leaders. He started negotiations with both the Congress and the BJP.
On the one hand, Harak wanted BJP tickets for his loyalists from the seats of his choice, while on the other he was eyeing the CM post. But Harish’s rival camp was unable to assure him of the CM post. But it wanted Harak to return to Congress so as to reduce Harish’s clout. In the meantime, BJP expelled Harak in what was seen as a move that outwitted him.
Outwitted, Harak tried to play the emotion card. He also spoke highly of Congress. But he could not make any political move that could hit the ruling party’s interests. According to sources, Congress wants Harak to ensure that some more MLAs leave BJP. Meanwhile, BJP does not want any legislator to go. Some MLAs, who are close to Harak, are said to have met Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Sources said Harish may not be able to block Harak’s return to Congress as the latter is financially strong and can bear election expenses in many seats.