Harish Rawat's rivals working against him

Rawat has had to change his seat. But despite this, his victory is not certain.

- AJIT MAINDOLA

NEW DELHI If Congress loses in the Uttarakhand Assembly elections, Congress election campaign committee head Harish Rawat will be held accountable for it. Rawat's decision has not been favourable for the party so far. Importantly, Rawat had to change his seat.

But despite this, Rawat's victory is not certain.

Rawat's steps remind one of Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri's decision in 2012 when he made the mistake of contesting from Kotdwar, while the BJP wanted him to fight from Srinagar. As a result, Khanduri lost, and with his defeat, BJP also lost power in Uttarakhand. Had Khanduri won, the BJP would have been in power as Congress was ahead of BJP by just one seat.

Congress is passing was insisting on fighting from Ramnagar against the party's wish that he should contest from Haridwar rural or Kumaon. But Rawat was adamant on Ramnagar, which was given to him. It was his loyalist Ranjit Singh who was claiming this seat.

Ranjit turned rebel and announced to contest as an independent from Ramnagar, adding to Congress' through a similar situation.