At a time when the Congress is facing a poll debacles across the country, Chief Minister Harish Rawat has started a campaign to boost the ruling Congress party's fortunes by bringing back former leaders to the party fold.
"Uttarakhand cabinet minister Harish Chandra Durgapal is welcomed in Congress family," said a banner at a function in the state Congress headquarters on Tuesday.
At the function, Rawat gave clear indications that he was preparing for what he called "mission 2017" ahead of the next Assembly elections in the state.
As part of the campaign, state Micro, Small and Medium enterprise Minister Harish Chandra Durgapal, an independent MLA from Lal Kuan constituency, was enrolled as an associate member of the state Congress at the party's headquarters.
But, technically, Durgapal will remain an independent MLA in the 70-member state Assembly. This means that the return of Durgapal to the Congress will in no way benefit the party in the House where its strength is 35.
"Technically, we are 43 and will remain 43," said Rawat on being asked whether the joining of Durgapal into the Congress will benefit the party in the state Assembly. Rawat was referring to the total strength of the party and that of seven-member Progressive Democratic Front (PDF), whose member was Durgapal.
Similarly, other PDF ministers in the state Cabinet, such as Dinesh Dhanai and Mantri Prasad Naithani, are also being tipped to join the Congress in the near future.
Rawat also said he would welcome all other former party leaders who are keen to return to Congress.
Rawat said he was working on a plan to strengthen the party by honouring the party workers with new responsibilities before January 26.
"Our doors are open for all PDF members. We will take them in the Congress with open heart," said state Congress chief Kishore Upadhyay.
