Some Course Correction Is Important To Win Elections: ‘Playing Captain’ Harish Rawat Justifies His Stand

Citing the example of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), he said that there should be a relation of confidence and understanding between those working for a common purpose.  

Former Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat. (File Photo/ Getty Images)

New Delhi: A day after he was placated and given the green signal to lead the Congress’ campaign in the upcoming Uttarakhand Assembly elections, former chief minister Harish Rawat on Saturday justified his earlier stand and said some course correction is important to win electoral battles.

“Some course correction, election strategy is important to win (upcoming) elections...sometimes expressing pain is also beneficial for the party. I believe this will benefit the party,” he said, ANI reported.

Citing the example of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), he said that there should be a relation of confidence and understanding between those working for a common purpose.  

“AICC is the boss like the BCCI. Those in charge are the coach. But even the playing captain has his position. There should be a relation of confidence and understanding between the three. If you play at cross-purposes, you will lose the match,” he said.

Rawat, who had earlier this week posted a series of tweets expressing his displeasure with the functioning of the party’s Uttarakhand unit, met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the national capital on Friday.

It was decided during the meeting, which was also attended by other Uttarakhand Congress leaders, that Rawat would lead the party’s poll campaign in the hill state.

The Congress high command has, however, made it clear that a decision on the name of the chief minister would be taken only after the party conquers the throne of Dehradun.

Talking to the media after the meeting, Rawat appeared content and expressed his delight with the party’s decision.

“Kadam, kadam badhaye ja, Congress ke geet gaye ja...I will be the face of election campaigning in Uttarakhand,” he said.