Uttarakhand: Congress also surprised, betting on youth from Haridwar-Nainital; Ticket to Harish Rawat’s son from Dharmanagari
In Congress, the wait for candidates for Haridwar and Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar Lok Sabha seats ended with shocking names. Late Saturday night, Congress announced the names of young faces against the experienced senior candidates of BJP. Harish Rawat’s son Virendra Rawat has been declared candidate in Haridwar and Prakash Joshi has been declared candidate in Nainital seat.
After declaring candidates for all five Lok Sabha seats, BJP is busy in nomination and campaigning, but after Congress declared candidates for Almora, Tehri and Garhwal, a period of continuous waiting and speculation was going on for Haridwar and Nainital seats. As soon as the party high command announced the names of the candidates late on Saturday night, everyone was shocked. Congress has declared Virendra Rawat, son of former Chief Minister Harish Rawat, as its candidate to contest against former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Trivendra Singh Rawat. This is the first election of Virendra’s political career.
On the other hand, Congress has fielded youth Prakash Joshi against Union Minister of State Ajay Bhatt for Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar Lok Sabha seat. Prakash had earlier lost the 2012 and 2017 assembly elections from Kaladhungi. Has handled many responsibilities in the organization. In Congress, the name of former CM and former Union Minister Harish Rawat was in discussion on Haridwar Lok Sabha seat, while the name of former MP Mahendrapal Singh was in discussion on Nainital seat. But everyone is shocked by this step of Congress. It is believed that on these seats with maximum voters above 20 lakh, the contest is now going to be between senior leaders of BJP and young faces of Congress.
…So has Harish Rawat announced the end of his political innings?
Harish Rawat has long experience in politics. He had earlier given ticket to his daughter Anupama Rawat, who is an MLA, from Haridwar Rural seat in the 2022 assembly elections. Now instead of contesting the Lok Sabha elections himself, he has given ticket to his son Virendra. There are speculations in the political circles that Harish Rawat has now indirectly announced the end of his political innings because the upcoming assembly elections will be held in 2027 while the Lok Sabha elections will now be held in 2029 and Harish Rawat has completed 75 years of age. Are.
Despite opposition, Harish Rawat had his way
It is also important here that despite strong opposition from other factions inside, Harish Rawat has been successful in getting the ticket for his son Virendra. Before this, his wife Renuka Rawat had lost the election from Haridwar Lok Sabha seat. Many party officials are still adamant that Harish Rawat himself should contest instead of Virendra.
