Dehradun/Haridwar – With the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly election fast approaching, political calculations in Haridwar district are intensifying, especially around the Khanpur constituency.
Harish Rawat’s Haridwar‑Centric Outreach Fuels Rumours
The ex‑chief minister has subtly signalled an intention to fight the 2027 polls from somewhere within Haridwar. A series of social‑media updates and the launch of his proposed Jan Samvad initiative, which earmarks Khanpur as a key focus area, have amplified speculation that Rawat may set his sights on the seat. Though no formal declaration has been made, the message is unmistakable.
Rawat’s connection to Haridwar runs deep. He previously represented the city in the Lok Sabha and, in 2017, contested two assembly constituencies – Haridwar Rural and Kichha – both of which he lost. This historical bond makes his renewed interest in Khanpur noteworthy.
2022 Election Recap: Independent Umesh Kumar’s Victory
The current MLA from Khanpur is independent candidate Umesh Kumar, who secured the seat in the 2022 assembly poll with 38,767 votes. He edged out the BSP contender Ravindra Singh, who gathered 31,915 votes, while the BJP’s Kunwarani Devyani Singh trailed 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 Backdrop: The 2016 Sting Operation
The Rawat‑Kumar dynamic also stretches back to the 2016 political crisis in Uttarakhand. At that time, Kumar, then a journalist, was linked to a sting operation that implicated then‑CM Harish Rawat. The episode triggered a CBI investigation, culminating in a 2023 special court order for voice‑sample analysis of Rawat, Kumar and several other individuals.
After the legal dust settled, Kumar pivoted to electoral politics and captured the Khanpur seat as an independent in 2022.
Could 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 nomination from Khanpur, but should he do so, the constituency could become the 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 definitive candidate list will emerge once parties and aspirants submit their official nominations for the 2027 assembly election.
