Uttarakhand crisis poised for solution

Heading a one-man cabinet, embattled Uttarakhand chief minister Vijay Bahuguna on Sunday seemed set to get rid of key political issues regarding government formation in the hill state. The high command of his Congress, which is backing talks to break the political deadlock here, appeared to have made positive results, with rebel union minister Harish Rawat agreeing to cooperate with the new dispensation. Amid reports that the some plum posts are being offered to resolve the prolonged crisis, both Rawat and his rival Bahuguna held several round of discussions on Sunday at different levels to find an amicable solution. “We have resolved most of the issues,” Bahuguna said in the evening. The party high command is understood to have offered a Rajya Sabha seat to Mahendra Singh Mahra — a close confidant of Rawat.

The crisis in the ruling Congress began when Rawat revolted against the high command’s decision to sideline him from the post of chief minister in his home state.

The talks gathered momentum yesterday afternoon, but suffered setback within few hours when a sulking Rawat denied TV channel reports that he had demanded a Rajya Sabha seat for his wife. But hopes for a solution again emerged last night when Rawat said he had opted himself out of the race of top job.

The talks had begun on Friday in Delhi after Bahuguna met Congress president Sonia Gandhi to resolve differences with Rawat. So far, only 18 Congress MLAs have taken oath in the 70-member house, where the party has a strength of 32. The biggest worry before the Congress, which claims having support of 39 MLAs, will be of the nomination of a Rajya Sabha candidate tomorrow and the election of the speaker of the House on March 26 before the trust vote on the floor of the House.