Harak Singh Rawat expelled from Uttarakhand Cabinet: is a UP-like exodus in BJP on anvil?

Is there an exodus of leaders on cards for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in poll-bound Uttarakhand?

Well a Uttar Pradesh repeat, it seems, is possible.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has dismissed state forest minister Harak Singh Rawat from the Cabinet.

Rawat, a lawmaker from Kotdwar, has also been removed from BJP's primary membership after he met with some Congress leaders.

Harak Singh Rawat was among the ten lawmakers who rebelled against Congress leader Harish Rawat and switched to the BJP in 2016.

Also watch | Uttarakhand Elections 2022 | Congress averts another crisis, Rawat agrees to lead campaign

If reports are true, a ghar wapsi to the Congress is on the cards and the ousted BJP leader is likely to join the grand old party in presence of Harish Rawat.

Along with Rawat, two more BJP MLAs are likely to join the Congress as well.

This time, the Uttarakhand Assembly election, scheduled to be held in a single phase on February 14, is likely to witness a three-cornered fight among the ruling BJP, the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.