The discord in Uttarakhand Congress seems to be ending because of the Ankita Bhandari case. Congress, uncomfortable with the political activism of former Chief Minister Harish Rawat, is uniting once again. Uttarakhand Congress President Ganesh Godiyal, Harish Rawat and Harak Singh have come together for the first time on any issue in recent times and were seen in a press conference. The political discord that arose among the Congress stalwarts had increased the problems of the Congress high command, but now all the leaders are demanding justice for Ankita Bhandari in one voice.
Congress leaders Harish Rawat and Ganesh Godiyal were seen on a stage on Friday. Harish Rawat has raised questions on the CBI investigation of Ankita Bhandari murder case. He said that the murder accused are already in jail, so what is the CBI investigating? He said that it is the job of CBI to trace the VIP whom Ankita had mentioned. According to him, till now neither the state government has said that there is no such VIP nor the CBI has acquitted him. He said that in this matter the entire Uttarakhand will have to unite and present its views.
Due to Ankita Bhandari case, Ganesh Godiyal, Uttarakhand Congress in-charge Kumari Selja and Harish Rawat, all three are seen saying the same thing that the daughter of Uttarakhand should get justice. Harak Singh Rawat has also said that Ankita Bhandari should get justice. The three major groups are collectively demanding that Dushyant Gautam should not be appointed to the post of Governor until the investigation of this case is completed.
Also read: Ankita Bhandari case: Demonstration from Delhi to Uttarakhand, protest outside Raj Bhavan
Harish Rawat becomes the leader of Congress?
Ganesh Godiyal and Harish Rawat came together on Friday. The Congress party has already been criticized for taking out a separate support yatra for Harish Rawat. Kumari Selja had opposed this rally and even demanded a reply. The official stand of Congress was also different from that of Harish Rawat. Harish Rawat even had to say that if the party did not want him to go on the streets, he would sit at home.
Harish Rawat:-
Our aim should be the party's interest and I want to clearly tell my Kalmi brothers and political friends that the moment Harish Rawat feels that I am being a burden to the party or I am asked to sit at home, I will follow the order without blinking an eye. But someone has to make the correct assessment. Lest this happen, I take a decision on my own and tomorrow some of my friends have to write that this decision of Harish Rawat has weakened the prospects of the party.
Now Harish Rawat is seen leading the party in the Ankita Bhandari case. He said that Ankita case has alerted everyone. According to him, hundreds of resorts have opened in the state, even in remote areas. The state government does not have any data on these and there does not seem to be any effective control over them. He told that he had raised this issue once or twice already.
Also read: Ankita Bhandari Case: Why suddenly BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam came into limelight?
Is VIP issue uniting Congress?
Harish Rawat claimed that Ankita had mentioned a VIP in a conversation with her friend. He says that Ankita's statement can be considered as a dying declaration, but the government ignored it. He also alleged that instead of making the statements of the parents a part of the FIR, a separate FIR was filed. The BI inquiry was announced when public anger increased and pressure was built. He said that Congress had demanded that the investigation should be under the supervision of a judge of the Supreme Court or High Court.
He also mentioned about the protest by Ankita Bhandari's parents at India Gate. He condemned his detention at night. Thanking Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, he said that both the leaders met the parents and took this issue to the national level. Harish Rawat also said that sending the VIP whose name the parents are taking to Raj Bhavan is an attack on the self-respect of Uttarakhand. He said that no one can be considered above the law and no immunity is acceptable.
The VIP about whom these things are being said is Dushyant Gautam. There have been allegations that the VIP for whom sexual favors were asked from Ankita was Dushyant Gautam. Congress is making this an issue in Uttarakhand. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had met Ankita Bhandari's parents at India Gate on Wednesday night and assured them to fight for justice. After Rahul Gandhi's meeting, this unity has started becoming visible in Uttarakhand Congress.
Also read: Ankita Bhandari, Dushyant Gautam and 'VIP' stigma, what is the story of Uttarakhand's outrage?
Kumari Selja, Uttarakhand Congress in-charge:-
Where there should be justice, there is no justice. Ankita's parents are demanding justice for their daughter. The entire Uttarakhand, the entire mountain is demanding justice for their daughter. But instead of giving justice, his parents are being taken to task. This clearly shows the thinking of the BJP government. The person whose name is coming up in this case, whose CBI investigation is being demanded, you make him the Governor. Give constitutional protection. Why? Is the BJP government afraid that its name will come up in the investigation? What is the conspiracy behind giving him legal protection? It is the arrogance of the BJP government that it never takes action against its people. Not only Ankita, but all those daughters of Uttarakhand who have been wronged will get justice. This is the promise of the Congress Party.
How is the discord in Congress ending?
After Harish Rawat's acceptance, Congress also called an important meeting on Friday. Kumari Selja, Harish Rawat and Ganesh Godiyal were also seen in the meeting. Sources associated with Congress say that due to the Ankita Bhandari episode, the internal factionalism of Uttarakhand Congress has not been completely resolved, but this sensitive issue has at least united the isolated groups on a common platform.
Leaders like Harish Rawat, Pritam Singh, Harak Singh Rawat and state president Ganesh Godiyal, whose differences have become public, seem to be united at least in this matter. Activists are protesting aggressively against the BJP government by taking to the streets together demanding a probe into the 'alleged VIP' angle and a CBI investigation.
Political analysts say that this unity is a political compulsion to corner the government in the name of localism and regional identity rather than a permanent solution to ideological or organizational discord. One section is also saying that the one who capitalizes on such issues, whose name gets raised more, his stature in front of the high command will increase. The roots of internal differences and tussle regarding claim for post and leadership still remain the same in the party, but the party is showing unity on the issue of Ankita Bhandari.
Also read: 'We will sit on hunger strike in our house', Ankita Bhandari's parents announced
Is this Ankita Bhandari case? There is an uproar from Uttarakhand to Delhi?
Ankita Bhandari, who worked at Vanantara Resort near Rishikesh in September 2022, went missing on September 18. A few days later his dead body was found in Chilla Canal. Resort owner Pulkit Arya, son of then BJP leader Vinod Arya, manager Saurabh Bhaskar and assistant manager Ankit Gupta were arrested. All three confessed that they had pushed Ankita into the canal. According to the police chargesheet, Ankita was being pressurized to provide 'special service' to the guests. The dispute started from here and Ankita was murdered.
18 September 2022: Ankita went missing. The three accused were arrested between 23 and 24 September 2022. Ankita's body was found in a canal. A charge sheet of about 500 pages was filed in December 2022. Sections of murder, destruction of evidence, sexual harassment and Immoral Traffic Act were imposed. The court framed charges in March 2023. On May 30, 2025, the Kotdwar court found all three guilty and sentenced them to life imprisonment.
Is there a VIP angle to this case?
It was told in the charge sheet that Ankita was being forced to provide special service to VIP guests. In late 2025 and early 2026, Urmila Sanawar released video-audio, in which there was mention of a senior leader named Gattu. Due to this, the name of BJP's then Uttarakhand in-charge Dushyant Kumar Gautam came into discussion. Family and some people are calling him that VIP. Dushyant Gautam has denied the allegations and has also filed a defamation case.
After several rounds of protests, in January 2026, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami recommended CBI to investigate the VIP angle. CBI is currently investigating this aspect. All three accused have been convicted in the murder case, but the VIP part is different and has not been proved yet.
Also read: 'We will sit on hunger strike in our house', Ankita Bhandari's parents announced
Why the ruckus from Delhi to Uttarakhand?
On 12 October 2026, Dushyant Kumar Gautam was appointed the Governor of Sikkim. Ankita's parents Virendra Singh Bhandari and Soni Devi are demanding that her appointment be stopped until the CBI investigation is completed. On 14 and 15 October, they staged a dharna at India Gate. Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi met him. Due to the protest, Ankita Bhandari's parents were detained and later released. He also gave an ultimatum of 24 hours.
On October 16, he met CBI officials. Assurance of help has been given. Dushyant Gautam will be sworn in on October 19. This case is one of the most discussed cases of Uttarakhand. The police then also demolished some part of the resort. Police say that the main murder accused were soon arrested and punished, while the mystery of the VIP angle is still unsolved. The family wants answers to this, Congress is making it an issue.