New Delhi, Jan 3 (UNI) Amid talks about a rift within, the Congress leadership from Uttarakhand put up a united front here on Monday and launched a scathing attack on the BJP for changing three Chief Ministers in the state.
Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat, who is leading the Congress election campaign, state unit chief Ganesh Godiyal, Congress in-charge Devendra Yadav and senior leader Pritam Singh were among the party leaders present at a dais where the campaign for the assembly elections was launched.
"Three Chief Ministers were changed in five years. The Modi government has acknowledged its failure by changing Chief Ministers thrice in Uttarakhand," Rawat said, blaming the BJP for failing to provide good governance to the hill state.
"People of Uttarakhand were not even told why the Chief Ministers are being changed," Rawat said.
"The first Chief Minister was changed because he could not handle the Kedarnath tragedy. The second, why he was appointed and why was he sacked, only two people knoiw: Modi and (Amit) Shah.
"The third Chief Minister was also going to be a casualty but because of fear of the Congress he was saved," he said.
"They have distorted the very concept of development. It is very clear the double engine model has failed in Uttarakhand," he said.
The campaign launched featured the three BJP Chief Ministers with the slogan "Teen Tigada, Kaam Bigada, Uttarakhand me BJP nahi aayegi dobara" - "The three (Chief Ministers) spoiled it all, BJP won't return to power in Uttarakhand".
A campaign song on the same theme was also launched.
Trivendra Singh Rawat was made the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand after BJP won in 2017. He was replaced by Tirath Singh Rawat in March 2021, who was replaced by Pushkar Singh Dhami, who was changed within months. Dhami became the Chief Minister in July 2021.
Uttarakhand, which goes to polls early next year, has the ruling Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) pitted against the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party which has also been aggressive in its campaign in the state.
In December, Rawat complained he was not getting support from the Uttarakhand Congress. He met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on December 24 in Delhi, after which he announced he will lead the election campaign in Uttarakhand.
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