Former Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat has resigned from his party leadership roles following Enforcement Directorate raids on his personal assistant. The investigation into 2016 recruitment irregularities and the seizure of cash and assets adds political pressure for the state Congress unit ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has resigned from two organizational positions within the Congress party as of September 12, 2026. He stepped down from his role as a member of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee executive and as a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee.
This decision follows recent action by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which conducted searches at various locations in Dehradun, including the residence of Rawat’s personal assistant, Chandan Singh Jeena. The investigation is linked to alleged irregularities in the 2016 Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UKSSSC) recruitment examination.
During the raids conducted on September 10 and 11, 2026, the investigation agency reportedly seized approximately ₹32 lakh in cash, gold chains and coins weighing about 200.5 grams, and 12 luxury watches. Following the search operations, the ED also froze bank accounts associated with the investigation, which held a balance of ₹52.16 lakh.
Rawat has publicly dismissed the allegations of involvement, characterizing the investigation and the subsequent actions against his associate as a politically motivated attempt to damage his reputation and create a negative narrative for the party before the 2027 Assembly elections. He has maintained that there was no personal interference on his part regarding recruitment matters.
The resignation is viewed by political observers as an attempt by the veteran leader to distance himself from the ongoing probe to prevent it from becoming a central issue for the Congress campaign in the state. The party is currently navigating a challenging political landscape, and the outcome of this investigation may influence public perception as the electoral cycle approaches.
Investors and stakeholders tracking the state's political climate will monitor the next steps in the legal proceedings against the associate and the potential impact of these events on the stability of the local Congress unit. The key monitorable remains how the ongoing investigation progresses in the coming months and whether it leads to further scrutiny of administrative decisions made during the 2016 period.