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Dehradun: Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat is once again in the news, this time he is making an emotional appeal about his younger son Anand Rawat. He has indicated through a Facebook post that he wants Anand to stay with him. Carry forward his mission and hold the torch of Uttarakhandi identity which he has been carrying in his political life for years.
Former CM Harish Rawat has written in his Facebook post that for the last few days I have been trying to get Anand to stay with me. I have requested him to stay with me, this thought repeatedly comes to my mind that someone from my family who is in public life, should talk about this torch of Uttarakhandi identity that I am carrying. He should dedicate himself to his mission, which path he chooses in politics, I will not put any restriction on this, it is a different matter, I would like that path to be that of Congress only.
This post of Harish Rawat on one hand shows his political mission and dedication towards Uttarakhand. On the other hand, it also makes it clear that he is looking for a successor in his family, who can not only carry forward his ideas politically but can also keep alive the consciousness of Uttarakhandi identity for which he has been struggling for a long time.
Referring to his daughter Anupama Rawat, he said that she is an MLA from Haridwar Rural and is so dedicated to the service of the area that she does not even get time for family and children. At the same time, his elder son Virendra Rawat, who has contested the Lok Sabha elections from Haridwar in 2024, is not able to give much support to Harish Rawat’s political efforts even while staying in Dehradun. This post of Harish Rawat on one hand reflects family concern, on the other hand it also fuels the discussions going on about leadership within the Congress party.
BJP’s reaction on Harish Rawat’s post
After Harish Rawat’s post, the Bharatiya Janata Party has given a sharp reaction to it. BJP’s state president Mahendra Bhatt, while talking to ABP Live, said that as Harish Rawat is getting older, he is now worried about his family. First he made his daughter an MLA. Then he got his elder son an MP ticket and now he wants to bring his younger son Anand Rawat into politics from Dehradun.
Mahendra Bhatt made a big attack on Congress regarding nepotism. Congress always says that it is not a party of nepotism, but this step of Harish Rawat has made it clear that Congress is also suffering from nepotism. The party is working completely under the pressure of Harish Rawat. Bhatt also hinted that Harish Rawat may be feeling threatened from his own house. Maybe he feels that if he does not support his children, they may go to some other party.
Rawat is preparing a political platform for son Anand
With this statement of BJP, it has become clear that politics is going to heat up in the coming times regarding the role of Rawat family in Congress. While Harish Rawat preparing a political platform for his son Anand may be the thinking of an experienced politician on one hand. At the same time, the opposition parties are linking it to the tradition of familyism.
The Congress party has not yet given any formal statement on this post of Harish Rawat, but if sources are to be believed, discussions have definitely intensified within the party about whether Anand Rawat can be given a big role in the 2027 elections. Especially when the Congress is looking for a new face on the seats of Dehradun district and if someone from the family of a senior leader like Harish Rawat joins, then the party can benefit.
What does Anand Rawat himself think?
However, all this will depend on what Anand Rawat himself thinks. Harish Rawat has also admitted that he has not yet talked to Anand about this. But it is clear from his words that he wants to see his son develop the political consciousness and commitment that he himself has shown throughout his life.
Will Anand Rawat enter politics?
This emotional appeal of Harish Rawat is giving rise to a new debate in the politics of Uttarakhand – political legacy vs. familyism. Will Anand Rawat enter politics? Will Congress make him the next face of this mission of Uttarakhandi identity? Or will this step become a new issue of opposition attacks for Congress? In the coming times, the answers to these questions can determine the direction of Uttarakhand politics.
