The resignation of Harish Rawat has put pressure on other leaders of Congress including the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Pritam Singh to tender resignation from their positions.
By tendering his resignation few days ago Rawat who made his decision public on Thursday has created a flutter in state unit of Congress party in Uttarakhand. Political observers opine that by resigning, Harish Rawat has played a major political stroke. “According to Harish Rawat, he has resigned a few days ago but since he is known to play his cards close to chest, he didn’t disclose it then. Now he has created pressure on others like Pritam Singh and in charge of Uttarakhand Congress to emulate him.
What is interesting that even if Pritam resigns now it would not have much effect on leadership for Harish Rawat has already outmaneuvered everyone on this account,’’ said one of the observers.
In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the BJP not only won all the five seats but its candidates secured a staggering 61 percent of the popular vote.
The Congress candidates lagged far behind in all the five seats as they were able to secure only 31.40 percent of the vote polled. In the three parliamentary constituencies of Nainital- Udham Singh Nagar, Garhwal and Tehri Garhwal, the victory margins of BJP candidates Ajay Bhat, Teerath Singh Rawat and Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah respectively was more than three Lakh.
Immediately after this major loss, Pritam Singh had said that the elections were fought under collective leadership hence the responsibility is now collective.
However by resigning from a key party position, Harish Rawat has clearly put Pritam and in-charge of state unit of Congress party, Anugrah Narayan Singh under pressure.