The speculation that general secretary of All India Congress Committee (AICC) and former Chief Minister Harish Rawat could contest from the upcoming Pithoragarh by-election has stirred the political environment of the State. Many in Congress party believe that the downward slide of the grand old party in the Himalayan State can be stopped only by bringing veteran Harish Rawat at Centre stage of politics in the State and the Pithoragarh by-election is a perfect platform for him.
The disinterest shown by the former MLA, Mayukh Mahar, in contesting the by-election, necessitated by the death of Finance Minister Prakash Pant who represented this constituency, has further given impetus to the talk of Rawat contesting from Pithoragarh.
Giving his support to the idea, the former President of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), Kishore Upadhyaya, on his Facebook page, has suggested that Harish Rawat would be an ideal candidate for the Congress party. “In the Pithoragarh by-election, Mayukh Mahar has shown his disinterest to contest. I have suggested the Congress party that Harish Rawat should contest from there. I have held discussion with Harish Rawat on the issue,’’ said Upadhyaya.
The former PCC President said that Congress party would get major benefit when Harish Rawat would get elected from Pithoragarh.
Though PCC president Pritam Singh and Harish Rawat himself were not available to comment on the speculation making rounds, the Congressmen expressed divergent views on the issue. “Harish Rawat is the tallest leader of the Congress party in Uttarakhand and he has contested many a political battles in the past. If he accepts the offer then he would be able to wrest the seat from BJP and if that happens, the Congress party would get a major boost in Uttarakhand,’’ said one Congress leader.
Others, however, opine that Harish Rawat is a very seasoned campaigner and understands things. “He would not enter into the contest as the BJP would sure to field someone from the family of late Prakash Pant from Pithoragarh to garner sympathy votes,’’ said another Congress party leader.
Political observers opine that former MLA, Mayukh Mahar is still the best bet for the Congress party. After the creation of a separate state, Pithoragarh assembly segment had witnessed contest between Mahar and Prakash Pant on three occasions.
Pant defeated Mahar in the election of 2002 while in the election of 2007 Mahar shifted to nearby Kanalicheena constituency from where he defeated UKD stalwart Kashi Singh Airi. In the election of 2012, Mahar again contested from Pithoragarh against Pant and emerged victorious in the contest.
In the Assembly elections of 2017, Pant took his revenge when he defeated Mahar.
The spokesperson of Congress, Mathura Dutt Joshi and Jagat Singh Khati are other contestants on which
Congress can repose faith in case Mahar decides to opt out of these By elections and Harish Rawat deciding not to take a risk.
