Congress leadership blocks Harish Rawat’s Kumaon outreach campaign

The campaign was slated to begin on October 5 in Jaspur and finish in Haldwani, but central observers intervened to curb the move. This friction arrives as Rawat remains embroiled in a high-stakes standoff with federal authorities. On September 27, he received a summons from the Enforcement Directorate, a development he publicly dismissed as a byproduct of BJP’s electoral anxiety rather than a legitimate legal inquiry.

Federal investigators are currently scrutinizing alleged irregularities surrounding the 2016 UKSSSC VPDO examination. Recent raids in Dehradun targeted the residence of Rawat’s personal assistant, Chandan Singh Jeena, where officials reported the discovery of Rs 32 lakh in cash, gold, and luxury watches. Following those seizures, Rawat resigned from two key party posts on September 11, claiming he wished to shield the Congress from potential fallout. Now, the party high command is moving to consolidate control, effectively grounding his attempt to reclaim public momentum through regional rallies.