'Find CM' troubles Uttarakhand Cong

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The Congress on Friday further proceeded with its plan to form a new government in Uttara-khand after it mustered the required support from all the three independents and one MLA from the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) to touch the magic figure of 36.

“Once we elect our new leader, the swearing-in ceremony will be held,” declared Congress general secretary Chaudhary Birendra Singh, who is in charge of the party’s affairs in the hill state.

However, even after mustering the required number, the Congress was facing trouble in chosing the chief minister amid certain conditions put up by independents and the UKD besides renewed groupism within the state party unit.

The Congress got 32 seats and BJP 31 in the 70-member state assembly — both falling short of majority.

The BJP went slow in garnering support (from the BSP), while the Congress took the lead to formally stake claim before Governor Margaret Alva after it managed to physically brought the four MLAs to the Raj Bhavan.

After verifying the support from three independents and one MLA from the UKD, the governor said she would invite the Congress to form the government once that party elects a new leader of the CLP.

“The Congress has staked the claim, as it has the requried number for the formation of new government in the state,” Alva said. “When they (Congress) will elect its new leader, I will invite them to form the government,” Alva added, after Singh presented her the letters of support from all the three independents and lone UKD legislator.

Tomorrow, the Congress is sending a team of observers to take the views of the new MLAs.

Significantly, all the three independents — Harish Durga-pal from Lal Kuan, Mantri Prasad Naithani and Dinesh Dhanai — besides and the lone UKD legislator Yamunotri Pritam Singh Panwar put up the conditions which may hamper the smooth functioning of the new government. For example, the UKD wanted Gairsain to be the new capital of the state.

“We want the new government to accept all our issues,” said Panwar. Naithani, a rebel Congress MLA, said he wanted senior Congress leader Satpal Maharaj. Other independents, too, have put conditions.

BS