U'Khand to get new CM, Harish Rawat arrives in Dehradun

Harish Rawat, who is tipped to be appointed as the new Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, today arrived here to a resounding reception by his supporters amid beating of drums and presentation of Kumaoni folk dances.

Though his appointment as the new Chief Minister is being considered almost final, a formal announcement in this regard will be made after a meeting of the CLP which is scheduled to begin shortly at the Bijapur state guest house in the presence of central observers.

Congress co-incharge for Uttarakhand Sanjay Kapoor said Ambika Soni, Janaradhan Dwivedi and Ghulam Nabi Azad will be here as central observers to preside over a meeting of the CLP to finalise the name of the new Chief Minister.

The new chief minister and his cabinet will be sworn in at the Raj Bhawan at 3:15 pm today which will be followed by a meeting at the Parade Ground where the new chief minister is likely to address the people of the state and party workers.

Vijay Bahuguna yesterday resigned as Uttarakhand Chief Minister.

Bahuguna's alleged delayed response to last year's June calamity with rescue operations being launched about four to five days after the disaster hit the state came in for bitter criticism, prompting the party high command to look for a substitute for him.