New Delhi: Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has stepped down from two organisational positions in the Congress party following an Enforcement Directorate (ED) search at the residence of his former aide, Chandan Singh Jeena, in Dehradun.
Rawat announced his decision on Friday through a detailed post on X, saying he did not want the ongoing controversy surrounding his associate to affect the Congress party or its campaign against corruption.
The former chief minister acknowledged his long association with Jeena, who, according to Rawat, had served as his Officer on Special Duty (OSD) and had been entrusted with important responsibilities during his various government and organisational roles.
Reports following the ED action claimed that cash and jewellery had been recovered from Jeena’s premises. Rawat said the facts would become clear as the matter progressed, while expressing disbelief over allegations that Jeena had tampered with OMR answer sheets in connection with the Gram Sevak recruitment examination.
Rawat said that if evidence established wrongdoing in the recruitment examination, he would be ashamed of such conduct. At the same time, he maintained that he did not accept the allegations as true at this stage.
The Congress veteran also linked the development to the approaching election season in Uttarakhand, alleging that efforts were being made to create a political narrative around him. Referring to a remark he had made in the past about election preparations beginning when investigative agencies came knocking, Rawat said the latest development involved an associate rather than his own residence.
According to Rawat, the Congress is currently highlighting the issue of corruption, while party leader Rahul Gandhi is addressing concerns over irregularities in the education system through the Chhatron Ki Goonj campaign. He said any controversy involving him that could weaken the party’s position was something he wanted to avoid.
Since he does not currently hold a government position, Rawat said he had chosen instead to relinquish his responsibilities within the Congress organisation.
He announced his resignation from the executive body of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee as well as his position as a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee at the national level.
Rawat said the decision was taken to ensure that the party’s political and organisational efforts did not suffer because of allegations or actions involving him or people associated with him.
