Tuesday, 22 August 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The appointment of the former Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Ganesh Godiyal as the special invited member in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) has underlined his rising stature in the politics of the State and the Congress party. His selection in the new CWC of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge comes close on the heels of his nomination in the all important screening committee for the selection of party candidates in the upcoming Assembly elections in Rajasthan.
The political observers opine that selection of Godiyal in the CWC clearly indicates that his stature in the Congress party is on the rise. It also suggests that the Congress leadership has tried to balance regional and caste equations in Uttarakhand by inducting Godiyal who is a Brahmin leader from the Garhwal region into the CWC. Incidentally both the key positions in Uttarakhand, the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president and the leader of opposition (LoP) are being occupied by Karan Mahara and Yashpal Arya respectively who hail from Kumaon region.
The elevation of Godiyal has come as a boost to the camp led by former chief minister Harish Rawat. This also proves that notwithstanding his advanced age and a series of electoral losses, Rawat remains the tallest leader of Congress party in Uttarakhand as he retains his place in the apex body of Congress party as the permanent invited member. Godiyal is considered close to Rawat who played a key role in his appointment to the post of PCC president ahead of the Assembly election of 2022.
After the unexpected reversal the party faced in the Assembly elections the short stint of Godiyal as PCC president came to an end and Karan Mahara was appointed in his place.
Godiyal said that he felt honoured by the decision of the central leadership of the party for appointing him in the CWC. The Congress leader said that he will use the opportunity to further the interest of Uttarakhand and its people.
