Former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat resigns from Congress after ED raids on aide
Harish Rawat announced he will quit all Congress positions after the Enforcement Directorate raided his former aide Chandan Singh Jeena over a 2016 recruitment exam scandal.
Senior Congress leader and former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat declared his resignation from party posts, citing the recent Enforcement Directorate raids on his personal assistant Chandan Singh Jeena. The ED, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, searched locations tied to Jeena and to former officials of the Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission, which oversaw a 2016 recruitment exam alleged to have irregularities.
Rawat said remaining in office could create a vulnerability for the Congress’s fight against corruption, echoing Rahul Gandhi’s national “Echo of Students” anti-corruption drive. Jeena, previously an Officer on Special Duty to Rawat during his 2014-2017 tenure, had his residence searched along with other implicated parties. Rawat’s departure underscores internal pressure on the party as it seeks to maintain a clean image amid the investigation.
Why it matters
The resignation highlights how corruption probes can force senior politicians to step aside, affecting party dynamics and public trust.
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