Internal squabble in Cong over distribution of portfolios in Uttrakhand

Harish Rawat is under pressure from most of the top leaders

More than a fortnight after Harish Rawat was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, the internal-squabbling in the ruling Congress in the state has intensified.

 

The situation is so severe within the party that Rawat, who took oath along with his cabinet ministers on Feb 1, has been unable to distribute portfolios among his cabinet ministers.

 

The party is divided clearly between the different camps these days with all the factions led by leaders like Vijay Bahuguna, Satpal Maharaj, Yashpal Arya, Indira Hridayesh and Harak Singh Rawat seeking their own pound of flesh in the new dispensation.

 

In order to soothe the ruffled feather, Rawat went to Haridwar late on Saturday night and met his political adversary Maharaj in an ashram in order to break the deadlock caused over the non-distribution of portfolios. Similarly, Rawat had been meeting other top leaders also in this regard, party sources said.

 

On the other hand, the ruling Congress has decided to organize a rally of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi at Parade Ground here on Feb 22 in a move to bolster the party’s fortunes ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Party insiders said the party high command has asked Rawat to distribute portfolios before Feb 22.  

 

But Rawat is under pressure from most of the top leaders with Hridayesh wanting plum portfolio of cash-rich Public Works Department (PWD) which she had headed when she was cabinet minister under the former N D Tiwari government.

 

Similarly, Maharaj wants Rawat to give portfolio of power department to his wife Amrita. On the other hand, Harak Singh Rawat wants to head portfolio of revenue and education. Arya also wants the two key portfolios with him. “Most of the leaders want portfolios like power, revenue, industry, irrigation, education, forests. On the other hand, Rawat also want to retain some these portfolios with himself,” a top Congress leader said.

 

Meanwhile, scores of Congress leaders are also scrambling to get ministerial-level berths like chairman and heads of various corporations. Rawat is also under pressure from his own supporters who also want prize posts in the key corporations like Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) and Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation.

 

When contacted, state Congress President and cabinet Minister Yashpal Arya admitted the distribution of portfolios has been delayed considerably. “Although, it is not a big issue, but the distribution of portfolios had been delayed considerably,” said Arya.

 

Taking a potshot on the ruling Congress, Leader of the opposition Ajay Bhatt alleged that all the developmental works are suffering in the state due to the severe infighting over the distribution of portfolios among the cabinet ministers.