Dehradun/Haridwar – With the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly elections drawing nearer, political calculations in Haridwar district are intensifying, especially around the Khanpur constituency.
Harish Rawat’s Haridwar Outreach Raises Questions
The veteran leader has hinted at filing his nomination from somewhere within Haridwar district in the upcoming polls. A flurry of social‑media posts and the launch of his proposed Jan Samvad initiative, which earmarks Khanpur as a key focus area, have stoked rumours that Rawat may set his sights on the seat. Though no formal declaration has been made, the signal is unmistakable.
Rawat’s connection to Haridwar runs deep. He previously represented the city in the Lok Sabha and, in 2017, contested two assembly seats – Haridwar Rural and Kichha – losing both. This historical bond makes his renewed interest in Khanpur noteworthy.
2022 Election Snapshot: Independent Victory for Umesh Kumar
The current MLA from Khanpur is independent candidate Umesh Kumar, who secured a win in the 2022 assembly election with 38,767 votes. He edged out BSP contender Ravindra Singh, who garnered 31,915 votes, while BJP’s Kunwarani Devyani Singh followed closely with 30,834 votes. The Congress candidate managed only 6,289 votes. Kumar’s margin of victory stood at 6,852 votes, underscoring the constituency’s competitive nature.
Historical Context: The 2016 Sting Operation
The relationship between Rawat and Kumar also stretches back to the 2016 political crisis in Uttarakhand. At that time, Kumar, then a journalist, was linked to a controversial sting operation that implicated then‑CM Harish Rawat. The episode prompted a CBI investigation, culminating in a 2023 special court order for voice‑sample analysis of Rawat, Kumar and several other figures.
After the legal dust settled, Kumar transitioned into electoral politics, winning the Khanpur seat as an independent in 2022.
Will Khanpur Host a High‑Profile Showdown?
At present, a direct face‑off between Harish Rawat and Umesh Kumar remains a possibility rather than a certainty. Rawat has yet to file a formal nomination from Khanpur, but if he does, the constituency could become a focal point of Uttarakhand’s political narrative, given the contrasting trajectories of the two leaders and their shared history from the 2016 sting case.
The final candidate list will crystallise once parties and aspirants submit official nominations for the 2027 assembly election.
