Former Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat to contest from Ramnagar

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 24

The Congress on Monday fielded former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat as its candidate from Ramnagar for the February 14 elections.

Anukriti Rawat, the daughter-in-law of former BJP minister Harak Singh Rawat who recently joined the Congress, has got the party’s nomination from Lansdowne, from where she was seeking a ticket.

Harish Rawat had in 2014 contested from Dharchaula when he became chief minister of the state.

In the 2017 poll, Harish Rawat had lost from both the segments he contested — Kichcha and Haridwar Rural.

The Congress today declared 11 candidates in the second list for Uttarakhand. It has earlier declared 53 candidates for the 70-member assembly election.

Importantly Harak Singh Rawat, who was instrumental in toppling the Harish Rawat-led Congress government in 2016 by way of his defection with nine other MLAs, has not been fielded even in the second Congress list.

Harish Rawat had demanded Harak Singh’s apology for the betrayal before accepting him back into the party last week.

Meanwhile, Harish Rawat’s one time protege Ranjeet Rawat had staked a solid claim to Ramnagar seat but the Congress today decided otherwise.

Harish Rawat has proposed that Ranjeet Rawat contest from Salt.

Harish Rawat has been eyeing a safe seat after embarrassing twin losses to BJP candidates in 2017.

Harish Rawat is also the Congress campaign chairman in Uttarakhand and has been upset over his non projection as the chief ministerial face though publicly he has said he respects the party’s decision to fight elections under collective leadership.

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