DEHRADUN, Nov 12: Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has ruled out any ambition of returning to the state’s top administrative post, asserting that his primary objective is to help the Congress defeat the BJP and form the next government in the 2027 Assembly elections.
Amid speculation over potential chief ministerial candidates within the Congress, Rawat clarified that he was not interested in competing for the position, emphasising that the party had several capable leaders who could take responsibility if it secured a majority.
In a social media post on Wednesday, the senior Congress leader described reports suggesting that he was positioning himself for the chief minister’s post as baseless.
He said his priority was to strengthen the party across Uttarakhand and work towards replacing the BJP government with a Congress administration after the next Assembly elections.
Rawat stated that he had no personal aspirations for the chief minister’s position or any other political office if the Congress returned to power.
Reflecting on his political career, the former chief minister said the Congress had given him opportunities to serve in several capacities, beginning as a booth-level worker and eventually allowing him to become a Union minister and chief minister.
He indicated that these responsibilities had fulfilled his political ambitions and that he now wanted to concentrate on strengthening the organisation and communicating its achievements to the public.
Rawat said he regularly highlighted the development initiatives undertaken during previous Congress governments, including his own tenure as chief minister, while comparing their performance with the policies and functioning of the present BJP administration.
He maintained that the party should focus on public issues and present a strong alternative before voters rather than allowing internal discussions about leadership positions to dominate the political narrative.
Ankita Bhandari Case Remains a Major Concern
Apart from the electoral preparations, Rawat identified the Ankita Bhandari murder case as one of the important issues that the Congress intends to pursue in Uttarakhand.
He said securing justice for Ankita, whom he described as a daughter of the state, remained a significant responsibility.
The former chief minister also demanded accountability regarding the alleged involvement of a VIP in the case, reiterating the need to establish the truth and bring anyone found guilty before the law.
The murder of 19 year old Ankita Bhandari, who worked at a resort in Pauri Garhwal district, has remained a sensitive issue in Uttarakhand, attracting public attention and political demands for accountability.
Rawat suggested that the matter should not be allowed to fade from public discussion and indicated that the Congress would continue raising questions surrounding the allegations and demands for justice.
Allegations Over Mid-Day Meal and Food Supply Schemes
Rawat also accused the BJP government of failing to protect public welfare programmes, particularly those intended to provide nutrition to schoolchildren and pregnant women.
He alleged that hundreds of crores of rupees had been misappropriated through irregularities involving mid-day meal arrangements and food supplies meant for vulnerable sections of society.
Referring to an alleged Rs 210-crore scam, he claimed that public money intended for essential nutrition programmes had been diverted, depriving beneficiaries of their rightful assistance.
The Congress leader further alleged that the money obtained through these irregularities had been used to acquire expensive properties, including a farmhouse and a palatial estate in Bareilly.
He referred to those allegedly involved as the ‘Bunty-Babli’ duo and demanded accountability for the suspected financial wrongdoing.
Rawat’s allegations add to the Congress party’s broader efforts to highlight corruption and governance-related issues against the ruling BJP ahead of the 2027 elections.
The claims regarding financial irregularities and property acquisitions are allegations made by the former chief minister and would require investigation and verification by the appropriate authorities.
Congress Prepares for 2027 Electoral Battle
With the Uttarakhand Assembly elections approaching in 2027, the Congress has begun focusing on strengthening its organisational structure and expanding its political outreach across the state.
Rawat’s remarks come at a time when discussions about leadership and possible chief ministerial faces are gaining attention within the opposition party.
By publicly distancing himself from the chief ministerial contest, he has sought to emphasise collective leadership and the broader objective of defeating the BJP.
His statement also signals an effort to shift the political discussion towards issues such as governance, accountability, public welfare and the performance of the incumbent administration.
The Congress is expected to use matters concerning women’s safety, alleged corruption and the delivery of government welfare schemes as key subjects in its campaign.
Rawat’s political experience and long association with the party could remain important assets during the electoral preparations, even as he has made it clear that he is not seeking another term as chief minister.
The former chief minister maintained that the party’s immediate responsibility was to reach voters, highlight its previous achievements and expose shortcomings in the current administration.
With the next Assembly election expected to shape Uttarakhand’s political direction, the Congress is seeking to build momentum against the BJP while presenting itself as a credible alternative.
Rawat reiterated that the formation of a Congress government in 2027, rather than securing an individual political position, remained his principal objective.