After raid on PA, ex-Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat wants to quit Cong posts
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KAUTILYA SINGH
Former Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat has resigned from key Congress party positions following an Enforcement Directorate raid on his aide. The raid, linked to the 2016 VPDO recruitment scandal, resulted in the seizure of cash, gold, and luxury watches.
The Political Fallout of the UKSSSC Investigation
The political landscape in Uttarakhand has been significantly shaken following the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) recent intervention regarding the 2016 Gram Panchayat Vikas Adhikari (VPDO) recruitment examination. Former Chief Minister Harish Rawat has announced his resignation from the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee executive and his role as a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee. This decision comes in the immediate wake of high-profile raids conducted by the ED on September 10, 2026, targeting individuals closely associated with his previous administration.
ED Raids and Seized Assets
The investigation centers on alleged irregularities within the Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UKSSSC). During coordinated searches across Dehradun, federal investigators targeted the premises of former commission officials, private computer agencies, and middlemen. Notably, the residence of Chandan Singh Jeena, who served as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) during Rawat’s tenure and currently works as his personal assistant, was searched. The ED reported the seizure of unaccounted assets valued at approximately ₹1.28 crore, including ₹32 lakh in cash, gold coins, gold chains, and luxury timepieces.
The Nexus of Recruitment Scandals
At the heart of this controversy lies the 2016 VPDO examination, a recruitment process that has long been shadowed by allegations of systemic malpractice. The ED’s involvement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act underscores the gravity with which the agency views the financial dimensions of these recruitment irregularities. By focusing on the OMR processing and the role of private agencies, the probe aims to dismantle the infrastructure of the alleged conspiracy that compromised public service entry in the state.
Rawat’s Defense and Political Strategy
Harish Rawat has framed his resignation not as an admission of guilt, but as a strategic response to what he characterizes as an attempt to craft a negative narrative against him and the Congress party. Despite the optics of the seizure, Rawat maintains that he and his party workers remain committed to fighting corruption. His resignation appears to be a preemptive move to insulate the national party leadership from the immediate fallout of the ongoing investigation while he prepares a legal and political defense.
Broader Implications for Uttarakhand Politics
The resignation of a senior leader like Rawat reflects the heightened sensitivity surrounding investigative agency actions in Indian state politics. As the probe into the UKSSSC scandal continues, the focus will likely remain on whether these financial trails lead to higher echelons of power or if they remain contained within the administrative staff of the era. The outcome of this case will likely serve as a litmus test for the integrity of public recruitment processes in Uttarakhand and could significantly influence future electoral narratives in the region.
Conclusion
In summary, the intersection of the 2016 VPDO exam investigation and the resignation of Harish Rawat marks a pivotal moment in Uttarakhand’s political history. With assets seized from a close aide, the pressure on the opposition to clarify its stance on administrative accountability is at an all-time high. As investigations proceed, the public and political observers alike will be watching to see how the legal findings reconcile with Rawat’s claims of political victimization.
Multiple Citing Sources