Uttarakhand Election 2022: Harak Singh Rawat Removed From Cabinet & Expelled From BJP Ahead Of Polls

Rawat said that Union Minister Pralhad Joshi had called him for a meeting for which he was on his way but saw on social media that he was expelled as soon as he reached Delhi.

New Delhi: Cabinet Minister in the Uttarakhand government and member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Harak Singh Rawat was dismissed from the state cabinet and expelled from the primary membership of the party for six years on Sunday.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has also written to the governor informing him about the removal of Rawat from the cabinet, news agency PTI reports. 

Harak Singh Rawat said that Union Minister Pralhad Joshi had called him for a meeting for which he was on his way but saw on social media that he was expelled as soon as he reached Delhi.

“Union Minister Pralhad Joshi called me to meet in Delhi, due to traffic there was a bit of delay. I wanted to meet him & Home Minister Amit Shah, but as soon as I reached Delhi, I saw on social media that they (BJP) expelled me,” he said.

“Rawat has been dismissed from the cabinet by Chief Minister Dhami and also expelled from the primary membership of the party for six years,” said state BJP spokesperson Shadab Shams. He welcomed the decision and said that the move will give a strong message that BJP is a party that does not tolerate indiscipline and does not bow to the pressure of any kind. 

Representing the Kotdwar seat in the Uttarakhand state assembly, Harak Singh Rawat was said to have been seeking a ticket for his daughter-in-law Anukriti Gusian from the Lansdowne constituency and also wanted a change of seat for himself too. 

PTI quoted sources also saying that Rawat was not happy with the BJP leadership for some time now and was also in touch with Congress to return to that party. Among other reasons, one of the reasons for his expulsion was his anti-party activities, it added. 

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Rawat, currently residing in Delhi, recently made news when he threatened with a resignation from the state cabinet while insisting on his demand for a medical college in Haridwar. 

Assembly Elections in Uttarakhand are slated to occur in a single phase on February 14.