Ex-U'khand Cong chief Upadhyay sacked for anti-party activities

The Congress on Wednesday removed its former Uttarakhand unit chief Kishore Upadhyay from all positions for anti-party activities, pending further action in the matter.

Upadhyay is the chairman of the Uttarakhand Congress coordination committee and is a member of the state Congress core committee and the Uttarakhand Congress pradesh election committee.

The Congress' in-charge of Uttarakhand affairs Devendra Yadav, in a letter to Upadhyay, accused him of 'hobnobbing' with the Bharatiya Janata Party and other political parties.

"Despite multiple warnings given to you personally, your conduct of indulging in anti-party activity continues unabated. You are therefore removed from all party positions, pending further action in the matter," Yadav wrote in the letter.

He told Upadhyay, the former industries minister of Uttarakhand, that the people of the state are yearning for a change and are waiting to throw out the "corrupt BJP government".

"There is widespread anger with the maladministration, misgovernance and all-round corruption aided and abetted by the BJP leadership. It is the solemn duty of each one of us to rise to the challenge and serve the Devbhumi of Uttarakhand as also its people.

"Sadly, you have been hobnobbing with the BJP and other political parties with a view to undermine this fight and weaken the cause of the people," Yadav said.

A former MLA who had won from the Tehri assembly constituency in 2002 and 2007, Upadhyay was the president of the Congress' Uttarakhand unit from 2014 to 2017.

He had met the BJP's election in-charge for Uttarakhand Pralhad Joshi during the latter's visit to the state earlier this month. This had fuelled speculation about a possibility of Upadhyay joining the saffron party.
Upadhyaya had, however, advised people not to read too much into his meeting with the BJP leader.

The Congress is seeking to wrest back power from the BJP in Uttarakhand.

However, the grand old party's state unit is already facing intense factionalism as former chief minister Harish Rawat had recently accused a section of the leadership of working against his interests and of non-cooperation.

Assembly election in the state is slated for February 14. The results will be declared on March 10.