Congress factionalism emerges as challenge for Rawat in Lalkuan
HALDWANI: Former chief minister Harish Rawat, who is contesting the February 14 assembly polls from Lalkuan seat in Nainital district, is facing challenge of rebellion and factionalism among local Congress leaders.
Congress’s former candidate from Lalkuan constituency, Sandhya Dalakoti, refused to withdraw her nomination papers following she was expelled from the party for six years. Now, she and her supporters are trying to dent the voter base of Rawat.
Also, there is factionalism among local Congress leaders, with some unhappy with Rawat coming to contest from the area at the last moment.
One faction is believed to be of Harish Durgapal, second of
Harendra Vora and third of Sandhya Dalakoti.
The faction of Vora and Durgapal have apparently agreed to support Rawat.
Geographically also, the constituency is a big one, with part of it stretching up to Udham Singh Nagar border and the other in Gaulapar adjacent to Haldwani. Local Congress leaders and cadre from different areas of this constituency don’t have much coordination between them.
Rawat also can not exclusively focus on his seat as he has to campaign for other Congress candidates across the state.
He has also to ensure that his daughter wins from Haridwar rural seat, where he has been actively campaigning after BSP fielded a Muslim candidate.
Also, Rawat is fighting election for the first time from Lalkuan.
This is the fourth time he will be contesting from a new seat. Rawat had become MLA in state legislative assembly for the first time in 2014 after winning the bye-elections from Dharchula constituency of Pithoragarh district.
Following that, in the last assembly elections in 2017, he fought from two seats- Haridwar (rural) and Kiccha in US Nagar district but lost in both to the BJP candidates.
When questioned about these issues, Rawat said, “There is harmony between Gaulapar, Bindukhatta and all the leaders of Lalkuan. I will take care of the rest. There is no factionalism in Congress, everyone is united and working for the Congress.”
On Dalakoti contesting as an Independent candidate, he said, “Party ordered me to fight from Lalkuan. Congress gave Sandhya Dalakoti full respect. Considered them eligible to contest election, if there is any change then everyone should understand.”
Rawat was fielded by the Congress from Ramnagar assembly seat but his candidature was withdrawn due to factionalism in the party’s local leaders.