While Rawat continued his yatra on Monday even after a weekend meeting with AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, the Uttarakhand Congress veteran is now learnt to have sought a meeting with AICC general secretary in-charge Kumari Selja, who had earlier written to him asking him to stop the yatra. As state party leaders keep their fingers crossed, the Selja-Rawat meeting may take place in Uttarakhand in the next few days.
The Rawat camp has been complaining of a pre-poll attempt to sideline him in the state Congress affairs and poll preparations. The yatra development adds to the internal rift in Uttarakhand Congress, with PCC president Ganesh Godiyal finding it difficult to garner the cooperation of many senior state party leaders.
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“Friends, the challenge is big, but our resolve to protect the pride and self-respect of Uttarakhand is equally strong. There is no stopping now during this phase of the ‘Dhanyawad Evam Jansamvad Yatra’,” Rawat said as he resumed the yatra.
As Rawat, known for his continuous mass outreach across Uttarakhand, launched his yatra, covering areas that include BJP strongholds as well as some of his own in-house detractors, several state Congress leaders conveyed their concern to AICC, calling it a parallel show.
Selja then wrote to Rawat, saying his yatra had not been authorised by PCC or AICC. Sources said Rawat wrote back seeking a meeting with Selja, even as his yatra continues to keep his friends and foes guessing.
