The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Uttarakhand): In another blow to the Congress party in Uttarakhand ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, PCC general secretary and Seva Dal’s state chief, Rajesh Rastogi, stepped down from all positions on Tuesday, citing the detrimental impact of dynastic politics on the party. Rastogi, a grassroots leader and advocate, also criticized former Chief Minister Harish Rawat for securing a ticket for his son from the Haridwar Lok Sabha constituency.
Expressing his concerns in a resignation letter addressed to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, PCC president Karan Mahara, and party in-charge for Uttarakhand Kumari Selja, Rastogi highlighted the growing influence of dynastic politics within the party, which he believes is undermining its integrity. He accused Uttarakhand Congress leaders of fostering factionalism and engaging in the sale of tickets, warning that if these issues persist, the party may struggle to even secure a position in the opposition.
Rastogi expressed regret that an honest and respected leader like Pritam Singh was not declared the chief ministerial candidate in the 2017 assembly elections, asserting that the Congress could have remained in power in Uttarakhand had Singh been chosen. Despite facing setbacks, Rastogi affirmed his loyalty to the party, referencing his unwavering support even after his ticket was revoked for the Laksar assembly constituency in 2022.
Citing examples, Rastogi criticized Harish Rawat’s decision to field his son as a candidate from the Haridwar Lok Sabha seat, overlooking the aspirations of senior leaders who sought to contest from the same constituency. He predicted that several prominent Congress leaders disenchanted with Rawat’s promotion of dynastic politics in Haridwar would follow suit and resign from the party in the coming days.
The state Congress has witnessed a wave of resignations in recent months, with sitting legislator Rajendra Singh Bhandari from Badrinath and numerous former MLAs defecting from the party.