Harish Rawat heads to Delhi to address Congress leadership over Yatra

Rawat’s journey to the capital follows growing friction within the Uttarakhand Congress over his solo outreach campaign. While the veteran insists his 10-phase Yatra was intended to revitalize the party ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, state leadership views the move as an unauthorized breach of protocol. Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal recently signaled that individual campaigns would no longer be tolerated, mandating that all future activities align with the collective leadership of Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.

The tension reached a boiling point after Uttarakhand in-charge Kumari Selja issued a formal note of displeasure on October 1, citing Rawat’s failure to consult the Pradesh Congress Committee. Despite the reprimand, Rawat proceeded with stops in Jaspur, Kashipur, Ramnagar, and Kaladhungi, arguing that the grassroots engagement was necessary to bridge a gap between the public and the organization. As he prepares to meet senior leaders, Rawat noted with a hint of irony that this marks the first time in his 58-year formal membership that the party has officially summoned him for an explanation.