Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi convened a closed-door meeting with senior Uttarakhand Congress leaders in New Delhi on Monday, 2 November 2026, to map out the party's electoral strategy ahead of the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly elections. The huddle signals the Congress high command's intent to mount a serious challenge in the hill state, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) currently holds power.

Who Was in the Room

The meeting brought together Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, Uttarakhand Congress In-charge Kumari Selja, state unit President Ganesh Godiyal, Uttarakhand Assembly Leader of Opposition Yashpal Arya, and Election Management Committee head Harak Singh Rawat. Notably absent was senior party leader and former Chief Minister Harish Rawat, whose non-attendance drew immediate questions from journalists.

Selja offered a procedural explanation for Rawat's absence, saying the meeting followed a defined structure: in-charge, secretaries, PCC president, CLP leader, and committee chairmen. 'Discussions with all leaders have been happening earlier and will continue in the future as well. This is an ongoing process,' she said.

Kharge Attacks 'Double-Engine' BJP Government

Kharge used the occasion to sharpen the party's attack line against the BJP administration in the state. In a post on X, he accused the ruling party of having 'betrayed the hopes and aspirations of the state's people' over the past decade.

'A collapsed law-and-order system, serious questions over women's safety, the arrogance of power, and a persistent tendency to evade accountability have left the people of the state disillusioned,' Kharge wrote. He added that the Congress is 'fighting with full vigour for the rights and entitlements of the people' and vowed to give Devbhoomi Uttarakhand a 'secure, sensitive, and accountable government that places public welfare above all.'

Congress Plans Anti-Corruption Protests on November 4

A significant operational outcome of the meeting was the announcement of district- and state-level demonstrations across Uttarakhand on 4 November 2026 to protest alleged land scams and what the party described as the 'illegal' sale or auction of land in the state.

Selja told reporters that land corruption would be a central campaign issue. 'Land is being sold off at dirt-cheap prices, representing a massive scandal,' she said, adding that party leaders and workers would 'stage protests at various places to bring this to the public's attention.'

Harak Singh Rawat elaborated on the specific allegations, citing purported scams in Haridwar, Rishikesh, Vikas Nagar, land belonging to the Jal Vidyut Nigam, and a parcel in Mussoorie — reportedly the George Everest land — which he alleged was given to Ramdev. 'We have formulated a complete action plan today,' Rawat said, indicating the party intends to sustain pressure on the issue for at least the next three months.

The Electoral Backdrop

Uttarakhand, which goes to polls in early 2027, has been a competitive battleground. The BJP won a decisive majority in the 2022 elections, but the Congress is banking on anti-incumbency and governance grievances to reverse the tide. This meeting is the latest in what Selja described as an 'ongoing process' of consultations — suggesting the high command intends to remain closely involved in campaign planning rather than delegating entirely to the state unit.

Selja confirmed she will also hold a press conference at the party headquarters in New Delhi to 'expose' the alleged land scam, signalling a coordinated media and ground-mobilisation push in the run-up to the elections.