‘Party should expel me’: Rawat after Cong ticket sale allegation

DEHRADUN: Senior Congress leader and former chief minister Harish Rawat said on Tuesday that the party should expel him following allegations that he took money for assembly poll ticket distribution. Hurt by the allegations, Rawat declared that an “an evil like me” should be “burned by Congress on Holi.”

Rawat wrote on his social media that he is deeply saddened by such serious allegations, as they have been levelled against a person who has been the chief minister, state president and general secretary of the party, and is a member of the Congress Working Committee.

“The allegation of selling posts and party tickets is very serious … If the person making the allegation is also on a senior position and the allegation made by that person is being publicised and disseminated by the person holding a very important post and his supporters, then this allegation becomes even more serious. This charge has been levelled against me. I pray to God that Congress party expels me from the party in light of this allegation against me. Holi is a celebration of ending evil…on this Holi Dahan, evil in the form of Harish Rawat should also be burnt by Congress..” he said.

Rawat’s outburst follows allegations levelled by Ranjeet Rawat, who was denied ticket from Ramnagar and lost elections from Salt seat. Ranjeet

Rawat on Monday had alleged that Harish Rawat took money from ticket aspirants and now they are searching for Rawat to get their money back.

“Harish Rawat is lying as he had told many aspirants in Ramnagar that they will be given tickets, but nothing like that happened,” said Ranjeet

Rawat

Harish Rawat was fielded by the Congress from Ramnagar assembly seat but his candidature was withdrawn due to opposition from Ranjit Rawat and his supporters following which he was shifted to Lalkuan. Ranjit Rawat was not given ticket from Ramnagar despite his repeated statements that he has worked in Ramnagar for last five years. He was given ticket from Salt assembly segment, where he lost. When Harish Rawat was declared as the candidate from Ramnagar, Ranjit Rawat threatened to contest election as an independent. In the wake of resentment and possible rebellion, the party high command withdrew Harish Rawat’s name from Ramnagar, and fielded Mahendra Singh Pal from Ramnagar and Ranjit Rawat from Salt seat.

With blame game starting in the Congress, Ganesh Godiyal, party state president, said, “If anyone has something to say, he should raise the same within the party and not go out and talk about it in the open.”

After the poll debacle of the Congress, direct and indirect attacks on Harish Rawat have mounted. He is also being questioned why he wanted to contest from Ramnagar where he knew Ranjeet Rawat had been preparing the ground for the last five years. Harish Rawat in his defence has been maintaining that it was party’s decision that he should contest from Ramnagar and the same was changed later and he was asked to contest from Lalkuan.

I pray to God that Congress party expels me in light of this allegation against me. Holi is a celebration of ending evil…on this Holi Dahan, evil in the form of Harish Rawat should also be burnt by Cong.. HARISH RAWAT