National

Uttaranchal Govt. swearing-in likely on Saturday

DEHRA DUN, FEB. 28. The swearing-in ceremony of the new Uttaranchal Ministry, which was deferred due to protests, is likely to be held on Saturday, the Congress spokesman, Surendra Agarwal, said today.

``I think the swearing-in ceremony is likely to be held on Saturday,'' Mr. Agarwal said. However, he added that a confirmation in this regard is awaited.

Party sources said the swearing-in ceremony was deferred in view of widespread demonstrations after Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, nominated N.D. Tiwari, as the Congress Legislature Party leader.

With pressure mounting on the Congress high command to reconsider the decision to nominate Mr. N.D. Tiwari, Ms. Sonia Gandhi today invited the State PCC chief, Harish Rawat, for consultations.

At least 16 newly elected MLAs, led by veteran Congress leader, Hira Singh Bisht, today met Ms. Gandhi and stressed that Mr. Rawat should head the first elected Government as the party's move to instal Mr. Tiwari as CLP leader had sparked off protest demonstrations and dharnas, sources added.

In Almora district, a number of senior party leaders including Pooran Singh Mahra and Agast Lal Shah resigned to protest the high command's decision to give the reins of Uttaranchal ``to a man (Mr. Tiwari) who had vehemently opposed the creation of a new State when he was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.''

At least 50 supporters of Mr. Rawat staged an indefinite dharna protesting the decision. The situation became tense when slogan-shouting supporters of Mr. Tiwari entered the headquarters and exploded crackers in their apparent bid to scare away the supporters of Mr. Rawat.

*- PTI

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