The ongoing legal battle in the sting CD episode concerning former Chief Minister Harish Rawat has ushered in a new bonding among the warring factions of Congress party in Uttarakhand. The health authorities have reported one case of swine flu in Dehradun. This person is undergoing treatment at one of a private hospital of Dehradun.
The Uttarakhand High Court on Friday accepted the plea of counsels of Harish Rawat to provide them more time in the sting CD episode and alleged horse trading of MLAs and set up October 1 as next date of hearing. In the last hearing, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had informed the HC that it is planning to file FIR against Harish Rawat in the case.
This statement of the investigating agency had fuelled speculation that the former CM could be arrested by the CBI on Friday.
The threat of arrest of Harish Rawat who is the tallest leader in state Congress galvanised a faction ridden party to unite in his favour. In a strong show of unity, the Pradesh Congress president (PCC) Pritam Singh, leader of opposition in Uttarakhand assembly Indira Hridayesh, former PCC president Kishore Upadhyaya and many other senior leaders of Congress party met Harish Rawat on Friday and expressed their solidarity with him.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Congress in Uttarakhand is divided in camps headed by Harish Rawat, combine of Pritam Singh, Indira Hridayesh and Kishore Upadhyaya.
The coming together of these factions could be good sign for the party which is going through a bad phase in the politics of the State.
The political observers opine that the unity among the warring factions would prove beneficial for the party in the upcoming Panchayat polls and the Pithoragarh by-elections.