By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 4 Dec: The Uttarakhand Assembly elections are scheduled for early 2027 but the political parties have already begun their preparations. While the BJP aims to retain power for a third consecutive term in 2027, the Congress is aiming to regain its lost public support. In this context, the chairperson of the Uttarakhand Congress Election Management Committee, Harak Singh Rawat, convened a meeting at the Congress State Headquarters in Dehradun today, which was attended by several senior party leaders. Party sources have claimed that in preparations to the upcoming assembly elections, the Pradesh Congress Committee will also be re-constituted. The re-constitution of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) has become due following the appointment of Ganesh Godiyal as the new state party president.
During the meeting, Harak Singh Rawat invited suggestions from all leaders to ensure the party’s victory in the 2027 Assembly elections. He said discussions were held on the issues that the Congress should take to the people before the elections and at the same time, deliberations were also conducted on comparing the Congress’s ten years of governance with the BJP’s fifteen years in power. He stated that Uttarakhand’s natural resources should have yielded tax revenue to the state after its formation, but the revenue continues to go to Uttar Pradesh. He urged the Union Government to ensure that the tax generated from Uttarakhand’s natural water resources is granted to the state.
Harak Singh Rawat said that meetings will be held with senior leaders of every district to gather feedback on local issues, and the Congress will raise these matters prominently to draw the attention of both the public and the government. Referring to the plight of Tehri oustees, he said that flaws remain in the Rehabilitation Act framed for them. People were displaced after abandoning their homes, culture and traditions, and therefore they should receive free electricity, which they are currently being denied, causing concern.
Rawat further stated that, in coordination with senior leaders, the party will work at the grassroots level to expose the government’s anti-people policies. He added that the Congress would fight with full strength for the implementation of the Old Pension Scheme. Efforts have also commenced to connect youths, farmers, ex-servicemen and women with the Congress, and from today onwards every day will be treated as an election day. Work has begun within the party to scrutinise the voter lists at each polling booth, with responsibilities being assigned to prevent any discrepancies.
Rawat also admitted that the Pradesh Executive Committee would be constituted soon. He said that former president Karan Mahara was unable to form the executive committee for certain reasons, but the party leadership has now assured that the Uttarakhand Congress will constitute its Pradesh Executive within the next 15 days. He remarked that elections are akin to a battle for political parties, and the Congress has prepared to turn adverse circumstances into favourable ones.
It may be recalled that in Uttarakhand, not just the previous PCC Chief Karan Mahara but several state party presidents have been unable to constitute the Pradesh Congress Committee after assuming charge as PCC Chiefs, Sources claim, that they were lacking courage to disturb the prevailing power structure or tackle the strong factionalism that has plagued the party since long in Uttarakhand.
Even, now, though the party claims that the Pradesh Congress Committee will be re-constituted soon, it remains to be seen, whether it really happens anytime soon or just lingers on with the aim not to disturb the existing power equations and factionalism. Re-constitution of the PCC has remained a major challenge for the party since long in Uttarakhand. The new party presidents take over on the orders of the Party High Command but fail to take the party in the state along in Congress.
