Harish Rawat, presently Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, is another strong contender from the party for the post of Chief Minister in Uttarakhand, provided Congress wins.

Beginning his career from village level politics and later working as a trade union activist, Rawat climbed different ladders and hierarchy, with ease, to enter national politics. He was elected to 7th Lok Sabha after defeating senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi from Almora constituency in 1980. He was re-elected to 8th, 9th and 15th Lok Sabha. Rawat presently represents Haridwar Lok Sabha constituency. He served as a Rajya Sabha MP representing Uttarakhand from 2002 to 2008.

Rawat’s career as a politician traversed through Youth Congress, Congress Seva Dal and the Congress party. He served as the general secretary of Youth Congress and chairman of Congress Seva Dal.

Rawat was the president of Uttaranchal Sanyukta Sangharsha Samiti. After the state was formed, he became the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president. His able poll management was credited for giving the Congress victory in 2002 Assembly elections.