Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal warned former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Monday in Delhi that his solo "Dhanyavad evam Jansamvad Yatra" would not be tolerated ahead of the October Uttarakhand Assembly elections. The warning came after Rawat met Venugopal the day before, where the former chief minister announced the launch of the thank‑you and public dialogue march that began in Jaspur, Udham Singh Nagar.
Rawat was escorted by former state Congress president Pritam Singh, Jaspur MLA Aadesh Chauhan, and a cadre of party workers on the 4 km route. He declared his aim to oust the Bharatiya Janata Party governments from both Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, insisting that the march was a grassroots response to local grievances.
Venugopal said, "Individual campaigns will not be tolerated. All canvassing must be under the Congress banner, guided by Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, to secure a united victory in Uttarakhand." He added that the party’s discipline is paramount during election season.
Uttarakhand state in‑charge Kumari Selja had earlier sent Rawat a letter demanding he halt the yatra, arguing that parallel events months before the polls would harm the party’s image. Selja said she was waiting for a response and that Rawat would meet her on Oct 7 or 8 to clarify his position.
Party insiders warn that a split in the Congress base could hand the BJP an easier path to victory. If Rawat refuses to comply, the party may initiate disciplinary action or even expel him from the Congress fold.
For local residents, the situation is tense. Ramesh Kumar, a 48‑year‑old farmer who attended the march, told reporters that he hopes the campaign will bring tangible benefits, but he fears the party’s internal quarrels could leave the electorate confused.
The forthcoming meeting on Oct 7 or 8 will determine whether Rawat’s independent march continues or is absorbed into the party’s coordinated campaign, a decision that could shape the outcome of the upcoming Uttarakhand Assembly elections.