In an electioneering atmosphere, Chief Minister Harish Rawat seems to be using political colours well to celebrate the traditional Holi festival with his electorate this time in Uttarakhand.
Interestingly, Chief Minister Rawat is not only trying to reconnect with the people by taking part in Holi celebrations in different places across the State after sparing time from his busy work schedule, but he has also been able to win the confidence of some of his Cabinet colleagues in this festive environment, who had openly expressed their disappointment over non-allocation of portfolios according to their choice, by reassuring them to have a relook on this issue.
More importantly, by doing so, he has also been able to bridge the political divide between him and his bête noire Congress MP from Pauri parliamentary constituency Satpal Maharaj to some extent, which the Chief Minister has not been able to do earlier in his more than one month rule in the Himalayan state.
It is worth mentioning here that political rivalry between the Garhwal strong man Satpal Maharaj and Chief Minister Rawat is known to all. Taking back the Horticulture Department from Cabinet Minister Amrita Rawat, wife of Stapal Maharaj, in much-awaited recent portfolio allocation, had only disappointed Maharaj.
After veteran ND Tiwari stayed back in political wilderness, Congress MP from Pauri parliamentary constituency has been quite vocal against Chief Minister Rawat within the Congress party.
In such a political scenario when Rawat is facing bigger challenge from within the ruling party than from the Opposition BJP, only his ‘taking all along approach’, which was quite visible on many occasions in recent past after his resuming charge as Uttarakhand Chief Minister, could strengthen his political position in the times to come.
In the backdrop of these political developments of late, Chief Minister Rawat must be expecting a reciprocal approach from his political rivals within the party particularly in the lok Sabha elections -2014 because as Rawat himself knows, Congress’ performance in the upcoming lok Sabha elections in the hill State, will definitely have an impact on his political future as Chief Minister.
However, whether he becomes able to get due support from the party leaders in their respective areas or not, it will be clear only after the general elections this summer. But Rawat, seems to have full confidence in the electorate. His promise to the Congress Central leadership that he would at least get three lok Sabha seats, including the Haridwar parliamentary constituency that he is presently representing, the Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar parliamentary constituency and the Almora-Pithoragarh parliamentary constituency for the party in the upcoming lok Sabha elections, only reiterates that impression.
Meanwhile, commencement of the keenly-awaited lok Sabha election-2014 process coinciding with the Holi festivals has only added excitement to the colour of festival in the mountain State. With the traditional Bathaki Holi starting in different parts of Uttarakhand, participation of political leaders in these Holi celebrations has attracted the attention of many here.
Chief Minister Rawat has already visited many places, including lohaghat, which is part of the Almora -Pithoagarh parliamentary constituency, to celebrate the Holi festival. He is likely to visit many other places to celebrate Holi with the people of the respective areas ahead.