Rift within Uttarakhand Congress, state assembly elections due in 2022

Despite all adversities, Congress party is looking to make a political comeback in the next assembly election in 2022 in Uttarakhand. Organisational crisis and rift between party leaders is adding to the dismal state of affairs of the party. Meanwhile, a new working committee has been constituted recently to revive the party.

Dehradun: Having faced defeat in local body elections, Lok Sabha elections, panchayat elections and many other by-elections, it doesn’t look that Congress party has learned its lessons.

Organisational crisis and rift between party leaders have further added to the dismal state of affairs of the party. A new working committee has been recently constituted in the state. The idea behind this reorganisation was to revive the party organisation and prepare for the next assembly elections.

Despite all adversities, the party is looking to make a political comeback in the next assembly election in 2022.

Given this situation, let us understand what is the ground reality-

State infighting has reached till Delhi

The uproar in the state Congress is not looking to settle down anytime soon. Once again the factionalism in the party has come out in the open. Every leader of the party is ready with their versions of the story and waiting to go to the senior national leadership in Delhi. This has lead to the rise of discontent among the rank and file of the party and which can be harmful to the party’s chances in the future. Congress may have to pay the price for the same in the next assembly elections of 2022.

What is the intent of the state leadership

A new working committee has been constituted recently. This has created a fresh rift within party leaders. On one hand, the discontentment due to the formation of the new working committee has found its way to the party headquarters in Delhi, which is also going to have its repercussions back in the home state too. It is said that the Harish Rawat camp has been marginalised in the new working committee, post which leaders of the camp have started giving statements in the press openly. It is believed that the leaders of the Harish Rawat camp are now eyeing the leader of the opposition post. If the Harish Rawat camp gets their desired posts in the party, will it mean that the party will return to power in the 2022 elections? or will it further alienate the other camp?

State Congress needs a consensus leader

Political observers feel that the party needs to rise above internal rifts and start working at the grass-root level so that the foundations of the party can be re-strengthened. They also feel that the party needs a leader who is not only popular but is also acceptable to all. In the 2017 assembly elections, the party was reduced to a mere 11 seats. In view of this, if the party is not able to improve its tally in the next elections it would be disheartening for its cadre.

Jot Singh Bisht, Vice president of state Congress said that the state leadership needs to take everyone together to move ahead. The dream of 2022 assembly elections can only be achieved with the efforts of everyone. He further said that if the state leadership is not able to do the same, then winning 2022 assembly elections would be a distant dream. Responsible people should come ahead and work for the strengthening of the party.

Infighting in Congress is going to increase

Though at this time the infighting is limited within the party, in the future it has the potential to turn into a full-blown crisis. On Congress party’s infighting, Devendra Bhasin, state BJP media in-charge said that this is party’s internal matter. But Bhasin said that as the assembly elections will come closer, the party’s infighting will start aggravating.

The infighting within the state congress is gaining headlines in Delhi too. This is hitting the image of leaders as well as the organisation. The senior leaders of the party in the state are scoring personal goals by their statements in the media. This is not only affecting the workers but also the support base of the party.

Now, only time will tell how Congress will make a comeback in the upcoming state elections.