Uttarakhand will give surprising results in LS-2024 elections: Harish Rawat
Wednesday, 01 May 2024
PIONEER INTERVIEW
After a gruelling campaign in the Lok Sabha elections in the Haridwar constituency where he sought votes for his son Virendra Singh Rawat, former chief minister and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat appears confident of the party’s victory in Haridwar and other constituencies of Uttarakhand. In an interaction with Gajendra Singh Negi of The Pioneer, Rawat talked about prospects of the party in Uttarakhand, national politics and other issues.
What is your assessment of the mood of the people who voted in Lok Sabha polls -2024 in Uttarakhand?
The people of Uttarakhand will throw an unexpected result this time. The reports are very encouraging and it will not be surprising if the result is 5-0 in favour of the Congress party.
What is the reason for this enthusiasm in Congress?
Frankly speaking I was a bit sceptical when the election process started but as the campaigning picked up the anti- incumbency against the Modi government came to the fore on a major scale. The Modi-Modi clamour which used to dominate past elections was missing this time. The people have voted for their issues and many of those who used to support BJP have not voted for the party this time. In the polling also the Congress voters came out to vote in large numbers for the party candidates.
You were instrumental in Congress party’s ticket for your son Virendra Rawat in Haridwar. Your daughter is already an MLA. Is this not dynastic politics?
My son and daughter have been active political workers of the Congress party for a long time. Had they not been in politics and were in any other profession, one can say that I have promoted my family in politics. If their family background is helping the party it should be welcomed.
In Surat and Indore, the Congress candidates withdrew from the fray in support of the BJP. What does this reflect?
The events in Surat and Indore show the degradation of moral values of the BJP and the nadir the party has hit in electoral politics. The anger of people against the BJP is mounting and the tactics will prove counterproductive for BJP.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has intensified attacks on Congress by terming it pro-Muslim and is raking up the issue of inheritance tax. How do you view this?
BJP is rapidly losing ground and panic is clearly visible in the speeches of PM Modi. He is using wrong words and his potent weapons are getting blunted now. His Mangalsutra remark was appalling and an attempt to polarise voters. He is frightening people by talking about inheritance tax, but people know that this tax was first of all abolished by the Congress party.
What were the major issues in LS elections in Uttarakhand?
The Agnipath scheme for recruitment in the armed forces of the country and rising unemployment was a major issue this time. Similarly Ankita Bhandari murder case and women safety affected the women voters this time.
The people voted above caste and religious lines. The Hindu/ Muslim narrative was also rejected by the people. There was apprehension in Dalit voters about the 400 plus campaign of BJP and the statements by its leaders on the constitution. It all got reflected in voting.
BJP used a battery of star campaigners in Uttarakhand but very few leaders of Congress came to the State to campaign for the candidates. What effect would this have on results?
It was our strategy not to invite too many star campaigners in the State. Our party President Mallikarjun Kharge came during the early part of the campaign and in the later stages Priyanka Gandhi addressed rallies in the State. We focussed on local issues and small public meetings.
Would you see Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister of India after the results are declared on June 4?
He is my leader and like every party worker, I want him to become the PM of the country. But we are contesting the elections with a coalition of parties, the INDIA bloc; so the selection will be done by the alliance. Our first focus is to get a majority in Lok Sabha.
