Dehradun | September 13, 2026
Report by Swati
Senior Congress leader and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has once again come into the political spotlight after announcing that he will step down from two organisational positions in the party following Enforcement Directorate (ED) action involving his former aide, Chandan Singh Jeena.Rawat said he does not want anything associated with him to weaken the Congress party’s ongoing campaign against corruption, particularly at a time when Uttarakhand is heading towards another politically significant election season. Rawat Clarifies He Is Not Leaving Congress
Rawat has also clarified that his decision does not mean he is quitting the Congress party itself. He has described his association with Congress as deeply rooted and said he is only stepping down from organisational positions.He is reported to have decided to relinquish his membership of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee executive and his position as a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee. ED Action Triggers Political Controversy
The development follows ED searches linked to alleged irregularities in the 2016 Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UKSSSC) Gram Panchayat Vikas Adhikari examination.According to the ED, searches at the premises of Chandan Singh Jeena resulted in the recovery of unaccounted cash, gold and luxury watches. Reports have put the cash recovery at around ₹32 lakh. Jeena had served as Rawat’s Officer on Special Duty and is currently associated with him as a Personal Assistant. Rawat has defended his former aide while saying that the facts of the case should emerge through the investigation. He has also said that if evidence establishes wrongdoing connected to him, he is prepared to face the consequences under law.
Political Battle Intensifies In Uttarakhand .Rawat has alleged that the ED action is being used to create a political narrative ahead of the Uttarakhand Assembly elections. The BJP, meanwhile, has urged Congress leaders not to politicise the investigation and has called for cooperation with the investigating agency. The latest development has added another layer to the political contest in Uttarakhand, with both the Congress and BJP stepping up their attacks ahead of the elections.
