In politics, there are no permanent friends or foes; only permanent interests. At a time when the Congress was desperately looking for someone who can at least give some relief to the continued onslaught of BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s wave all across the country, re-joining of TPS Rawat to the party-fold appears to be a boon for the beleaguered party.
Former Congress leader and State Cabinet Minister TPS Rawat, who had contested lok Sabha election against BJP candidate Maj Gen BC Khanduri in 2004 and then Congress candidate Satpal Maharaj in 2009, has finally joined the Congress in Delhi on Saturday.
The development has boosted the moral of Congress leaders, who were desperately looking for support after departure of ex-MP Satpal Maharaj in Garhwal seat last month. It has ascertained the proverb that no permanent friend or foe exists in politics.
It would be interesting to mention that when Harak Singh Rawat was appointed as leader of Opposition by the Congress high command in 2007 then lt Gen Rawat, who was brought into politics by then Congress leader Satpal Maharaj and was made Cabinet Minister during ND Tiwari regime in between 2002-07, deserted the Congress and joined the BJP.
Then he made a statement that by appointing Harak Singh Rawat as leader of Opposition, the Congress high command has disdained him so he had decided to quit. Now question is that why he joined the Congress when Harak Singh Rawat is contesting lok Sabha election from Garhwal seatIJ
later, he won lok Sabha by poll from Pauri, which was vacated by then chief minister Gen Khanduri to become member of Uttarakhand assembly, by defeating his political guru or mentor Satpal Maharaj through postal ballot in 2008.
Meanwhile, talking to The Pioneer, State BJP general secretary Prakash Pant said that Gen Rawat, who was made MP by BJP in 2008, was in hurry so it would not make any impact in BJP because he had formed Uttarakhand Raksha Morcha during assembly election-2012 and later he merged URM in newly born Aam Aadmi party (AAP) with an hope that he would get AAP ticket from Garhwal seat but he was denied.
Since then he was running impatient and ultimately joined Congress. He charged that lt Gen Rawat was an opportunist and could do anything to serve his personal interest only.
As far as ex-servicemen vote bank is concerned then they are well educated people and having vast experience because of their past job so lt Gen Rawat would not make any dent in the vote bank. They were with Gen Khanduri since 1991 because of his personal integrity and able leadership.