Ramsharan Nautiyal, father of popular singer Jubin Nautiyal, formally rejoined the Indian National Congress at the party's headquarters in New Delhi on Monday, 19 October 2026, just days after resigning from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His return to the Congress — a party he had left in 2014 — comes with the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly elections drawing closer and political mobilisation in the hill state intensifying.

Key Figures Present at the Induction

Nautiyal's re-entry was formalised in the presence of senior Congress leaders, including Kumari Selja, the party's Uttarakhand in-charge; Yashpal Arya, Leader of Opposition in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly; and Ganesh Godiyal, President of the Uttarakhand Congress state unit. The gathering signalled the party's intent to highlight the induction as a boost ahead of the upcoming state polls.

What Selja Said at the Press Conference

Addressing reporters on the occasion, Selja launched a sharp attack on the political climate in Uttarakhand and, more broadly, on the state of democratic institutions in the country. "Everyone knows what the current situation in Uttarakhand is like. Democracy is being shredded across the entire country, be it the SIR issue, the role of the Chief Election Commissioner or the conduct of the Election Commission of India. Our leader Rahul Gandhi has been consistently speaking out about 'vote theft'," she said.

Selja also raised the controversy surrounding Uttarakhand Minister Rekha Arya and her husband, questioning why Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was allegedly 'shielding' Arya despite her husband having levelled corruption allegations against her. She described Nautiyal's departure from the BJP as a result of his 'dissatisfaction' with the party's working environment and organisational approach.

Nautiyal on His Return

Speaking after the induction, Ramsharan Nautiyal made clear he had rejoined without seeking any specific assurance or post from the party. "I decided to join the party and work for it... I have not taken any commitment from the party; I have committed to give my fullest to the party," he said. His statement positions the return as ideologically driven rather than transactional.

Nautiyal brings considerable organisational experience to the party. He previously served as Chairman of the Dehradun District Panchayat and held the posts of General Secretary and Vice President within the Uttarakhand Congress unit. His specific role in the current structure will be determined at a later stage, according to Godiyal.

Political Significance Ahead of 2027

Yashpal Arya described the development as a homecoming. "Ramsharan Nautiyal has traditionally been aligned with the Congress ideology and has played an important role in the party over the past several decades... His return to the party is certainly a homecoming, and this is a welcome occasion," Arya said. Godiyal echoed that sentiment, asserting that Nautiyal's return would 'further strengthen' the party's position in Uttarakhand.

This comes amid broader pre-election churn in the state, with the Congress attempting to consolidate its base and project organisational depth ahead of what is expected to be a fiercely contested assembly election. As parties begin staking positions, individual defections and re-entries such as this one will likely increase in frequency over the coming months.