Harish Rawat’s lemon tea, Gur n fruits party is the talk of the town in Uttarakhandi circles of Delhi n NCR

If one political leader is asked to be named who throws usual parties of the Uttarakhandi delicacies n indiginous foodstuff in Delhi n Uttarakhand n prefers to mix himself with his fellow Uttarakhandies in Delhi the name of the former UK CM n two time state minister in Central Cabinet Harish Rawat aka Harda obviously comes to the fore.

This Monday on 7 January too Rawat threw a lemon tea, Gur n fruits party at Garhwal Bhawan in New Delhi attracting hundreds of fellow Uttarakhandies living the capital n NCR pleasing them to the fullest giving interviews to media, exchanging pleasentaries n posing for photographs n selfies. The former Delhi MP n leader of poorvanchal Mahabal Mishra, Uttrakhand Rajya Sabha MP Pradeep Tamta, mediamen n representatives of various socio political organisation participated in this get together.

This is a novel way devised by AICC general secretary n former CM UK to establish social liason with his people after his defeat in Uttarakhand giving an impression that Harish Rawat factor is still very much alive in the politics of Uttarakhand despite the party’s shameful defeat in the 18 year od Himalayan state. There are five BJP MPs from Uttarakhand n two Rajya Sabha MPs, the one being cine actor turned UPCC(i) chief Raj Babbar but none has so far thrown such parties to entice felow Uttarakhandies as Rawat has been doing for the last two years.

However, while he was union state minister in Delhi then too he used to arrange such get togethers once in a while serving lunches n dinners thus becoming affectionate amongst the local Uttarakhand masses despite being at the centre of criticism as well on certain ocassions.

Harish Rawat’s political detractors within his party and outside, of the opposition camp also, envy him for his such diplomatics tricks of throwing parties in Delhi n Uttrakhand enticing large crowds across political lines.

Even after losing in Uttarakhand state elections and conceding defeat to BJP, septuagenarian former CM Harish Rawat instead of becoming dormant politically became more active by hosting such parties of Uttarakhand’s indigenous delicacies, Kafal party n the one he held today attracting tremendous crowds of his followers n party activists thus establishing his political relevance n leadership intact.

Not only in Uttarakhand n Delhi but Rawat continued campaigning extensively for the party candidates in various state elections from Tripura to Assam n maintained his proximity towards Sonia n Rahul.

He was elevated to the highest decision making body of Congress, the CWC n also appointed as general secretary AICC. It was Rawat’s political and organisational dexterity that helped him get elevated to two top positions in AICC , the CWC n as Genl Secy ( Incharge, Assam affairs).

But despite all this i.e. his elevation to CWC n as GS with charge of Assam Congress, Rawat’s passion for Uttarakhand did’nt end here n he’s again active in Uttarakhand’s politics throwing such parties of Uttarakhand’s delicacies, fruits and lemon tea attracting large crowds in the state n elsewhere.

The Uttarakhand Congress Committe chief Pritam Singh seems to be puzzled n politically insecure keeing in view the parallel socio political actions of Rawat n not giving them much weightage in such social n political endeavours.

Sunil Negi, President, Uttarakhand Journalists Forum