Former U'khand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat uninterested to contest in upcoming polls

In a letter to BJP national president JP Nadda, former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Wednesday expressed unwillingness to contest Assembly polls.

"Leadership has changed in the state and the party got a youth leader Pushkar Singh Dhami. In the changed political scenario, I should not contest the 2022 Assembly polls," Rawat said in the letter. He had earlier also conveyed his intent not to contest, he added.

"As per responsibilities extended to me by the national secretary and party in the past, I have done election-related work in Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Uttar Pradesh," the letter read.

"I want to work wholetime so that the BJP government is formed under Dhami's leadership. Therefore, I request you to accept my request of not contesting so that I can do my best for the formation of the BJP government in the state again," it added.

Rawat served as Chief Minister of the state from 2017 to March 2021 after winning from the Doiwala constituency. The BJP removed him from the post in 2021 and replaced him with Tirath Singh Rawat. The party then again handed the reins to Dhami after sensing that Tirath Singh Rawat may not get elected as MLA within six months.