Amid speculation that the Congress high command wants a change of guard in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has strongly dismissed such media reports as "unfounded" and said he is being supported by 41 MLAs in the 70-member House.
"I am the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) and being supported by 41 MLAs. All these reports are unfounded," Bahuguna said. His explanation followed media reports that said five-six party MLAs had been sent to New Delhi to oppose Union Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat, who is being tipped to be the future chief minister of the state.
"First of all, I want to make it clear that I don't have any camp. I am the sole CLP leader and being supported by 41 MLAs," Bahuguna said emphatically.
Interestingly, the Harish Rawat group had strongly opposed Bahuguna when he was nominated as chief minister by the high command last year.
Bahuguna's comments assume significance as some party MLAs like Subhodh Unniyal and Vijaypal Sajwan, who are in New Delhi, are his strong supporters. However, Bahuguna admitted that all these MLAs had met Congress President Sonia Gandhi in the Parliament on Monday.
"But all these MLAs are first timers and wanted to see the proceedings of the House especially, when the Lok Sabha was passing the grand food security Bill," Bahuguna said.
Bahuguna said the MLAs have invited Gandhi to visit the Kedarnath shrine on September 11 when it reopens for puja after the June 16-17 deluge.
To a question, Bahuguna admitted the reconstruction work related to border roads was being delayed due to heavy rains in the hills. "Rains have delayed all work related to border roads," he said.
Bahuguna also did not make any comment regarding the reopening of roads and highways leading to Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. "All I can say is that the mule tracks leading to these shrines have been prepared," he said. He added that except Kedarnath, prayers at Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri are being held everyday.
The chief minister also said the puja at Kedarnath temple would be held on September 11 according to plan.
