Vijay Bahuguna of the Congress was sworn in Uttarakhand's seventh Chief Minister at a simple ceremony at the Parade Grounds here on Tuesday evening. The ceremony lasted only a few minutes as Mr. Bahuguna was the only one to take the oath of office.
Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Agriculture Harish Rawat — who was a strong contender for the job — is reported to have resigned in protest. His followers raised slogans against central observer Ghulam Nabi Azad at his New Delhi residence.
Present at the swearing in ceremony were Mr. Azad; the former Chief Minister, Narain Dutt Tiwari; Satpal Maharaj, MP; 11 Congress MLAs, including State Congress president Yashpal Arya; Mantri Prasad Naithani, an independent; former Bharatiya Janata Party Chief Ministers Ramesh Pokriyal Nishank and B.C. Khanduri; Mr. Bahuguna's sister and Uttar Pradesh State Congress president Rita Bahuguna, and brother Shekhar Bahuguna.
On a sticky wicket
The fact that only 11 of the 32 Congress legislators showed up indicates that Mr. Bahuguna is on a sticky wicket. He has the support of three Bahujan Samaj Party legislators, three independents and the lone Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (P) MLA. However, the grapevine has it that the three BSP MLAs could go with Mr. Harish Rawat if he tries to form a government with the help of his loyalists and support from the BJP.
Talking to reporters after the swearing-in ceremony, Mr. Bahuguna promised a strong government that would try and solve the problems of the masses. As for Mr. Harish Rawat's protest, he said it was a pressure tactic and the party was capable of resolving the issues that he and some others had raised.
However, Pradeep Tamta, MP from Almora, accused the Congress core group of deceiving Mr. Harish Rawat by first saying that the Chief Minister's job would go to an MLA and quietly choosing the Tehri MP at the eleventh hour. “We did not oppose the selection of N.D. Tiwari as Chief Minister in 2002 as he was a tall figure. But now Mr. Rawat has been superseded by a much junior person and we have the right to oppose injustice,” he said.
Mr. Tamta denied reports that Mr. Rawat was in touch with BJP president Nitin Gadkari. “All such talk is simply to malign Mr. Rawat and his well wishers,” he said.
The Leader of the Opposition in the last Assembly Harak Singh Rawat — another contender for the top job — said that the Bahuguna government would not last long. “He may never face the Assembly,” he said.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Ambika Soni hoped that Mr. Harish Rawat's followers would get over their disappointment soon.
“Everyone wants his leader to reach higher places. Sometimes things don't happen that way and the Congress is strong enough to tide over such trivial matters,” she said.
Keywords: Uttarakhand Assembly polls, Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Harish Rawat, Chief Minister post, MLAs meeting
Dear Mr Rawat,I am here in Oman for the last 20 years. Did you try any outlet in the mddlie east.Can I try or if you have initiated something let me know. Ineed I need to be with the PROJECT as early as possible. I do not know how when where. I do not think all. I just be with GREEN.Do you have Export of seeds plants and grown up trees etc etc. I saw Videos of Thailand. I really need that to suit Coconut Transplanting in Sri Lanka. Can you tell me something about COCONUT. or if you can direct me I appreciate very much. Today you all send my 2 books and 2 dvds to seperate addresses. One to Lawyer Friend and to me in Oman. I know speedpost will cost you less and the difference in fare I will pay for u. I am eargerly waiting to seethe book. Do you have any SINHALA Translations . Please reply Regards,Harrison Fernando
I've learned newer and more efivctfee things out of your blog post. Also a thing to I have observed is that in most cases, FSBO sellers can reject anyone. Remember, they will prefer not to use your companies. But if anyone maintain a comfortable, professional relationship, offering assistance and remaining in contact for around four to five weeks, you will usually have the capacity to win interviews. From there, a house listing follows. Cheers
in case of cm uttarakhand,division &fractue of congress is not good for state.congress should have declear a leader in uttarakhand.or after result all mla,s & mp,s of uttarakhand congress should have final a single name for leader (as cm ).but all (8) candidates of cm were standing in 36 disit.some devided,s are now showing unity..why ? they not unite before high command;s dicision.why they force to h command for taking this dicision.perhaps all leaders will think better & problem will solve.
Vijay Bahuguna only qualification is he is bother of rita bahuguna and son of Late C.M of U.P Shri H.N.Bahuguna. This qualification stood when he was elevated as high court judge and now as C.M. He has been a medicore advocate & judge. Congress has the habit of giving responsibilities to person having no connection with masses and ignoring grass root politicians.. Take example Mamata Banergee, and look Chiddi, Sibal, Manmohan Singh etc
Congress was well known to topple the other party Govt., now the God is teaching a good lesson to the Congress of how to survive with its own revolt. Jagan Reddy (CBI) formula likely to applied here too against the revolt members.
The basis of a decision has to be democracy. At least the congress MLA's have the
right to know the merits of either decisions. This high handedness is against
democracy within the party that's leading largest democracy.
It is so bad to see that leaders fighting on the grass roots level are ignored for people who hardly understand the politics but belong to a political family.
Its high time that political parties and their high commands realise that we live in a democracy and not under the rule of a crown. Hence, it should be the imperative of the people to dislodge such government running on name of a family. Nepotism has become a bigger problem for this nation than corruption as nepotism leads to corruption.
From my point of view, every worker should be loyality to the Party chief. Rawat may be a senior leader but he should mantain loyality formula.
People vote for the legislators in a democracy. Elected legislators then support a leader. A responsible high command should be wise to sense the situation accurately and without bias. A good democratic discipline is broken here.
First of all, If Harish Rawat has majority MLAs support, He must be the CM. As is democracy who has numbers will win. Who is Sonia Gandhi or High Command to decide the leader of legislature? By constitution this is right of MLAs.
I don't think any voter has voted to congress MLAs because of Sonia or Rahul. They have put a rubber stamp in centre and want to put rubber stamps in states as well. Congress is in a suicide path.
This is a bigger issue, should not be overlooked, by providing arguments like, interest of state. These types of things should not happen. If Bahuguna has majority of MLAs, he should prove majority. This is very simple, the person with large support wins.
It seems nothing can prevent Congress from self destruct mode.All the
problems of the party could be traced to imposed leadership. We
expected the venerable political party would learn from mistakes. It
beyond comprehension as why the state party units should not be
allowed to elect the local leader through secret ballot without the
presence arm twisting high command observer.Same thing hold good for
BJP which pride itself as party with a difference but follow the
similar sickening path.
The problem doesn't lie in who becomes the CM of the state. The actual
problem is the built in instability of Governments (even if they really
govern, which is highly doubtful given the organised anarchy we have
in Bharat called India) of smaller entities (whether states or Union
Territories) due to very small number of legislators. If the state is
large enough to have at least 150 to 200 legislators then there is a
bleak chance of such revolts. People fail to understand why there is
such a clamour for CM (even to be a legislator) when the are supposed
to be servants of people. Does any one aspire to be a messenger in
office? Obviously they have long ceased to be what they are intended
to be as per Constitution and Politics is business. I don't find
anything wrong with selection of a leader by Party when there are far
too many contenders with none clinching the majority in their
legislature Party. Even if one does clinch, the party may not make him
leader if he is of doubtful character
The hard work should be rewarded but these lines had never been in
favor of Mr Harish Rawat. He fought election against the Big Man "
Murali Manohar Joshi" and won it shows the popularity. He is known as
the grassroots worker and even know each villages of Uttarakhand ( It is said by N.D.Tewari once). Congress faught this election under Harish Rawat fame (not confirmed but if you will take poll then 80% people will say 'yes'). Congress even fought elections of 2002 under him but not made Chief minister due to the N.D.Tewari seniority. Congress should have given the name of CM as Harish Rawat at the very first day but the "Big Links to High Command" make facts in Congress. If he has resigned from the cabinet ministry then its good move by him we cannot let it go all the time ( at least someone shows courage of speaking against the weak decisions of Soniya Gandhi). I wish him all the very best and I will say " He deserves to be the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand from congress Party "
Congress, after all its post-mandal experience, not even realized the
fact that it has to give importance to identity politics and space for
people who have less political past to portray. It needs to show that
the Congress is ready to offer key political posts to the members of
the marginalized communities.
Once again the fuedalistic mentality of congress party is exposed.Gandhi familiy only wants CMs who work on their personal secreatary's order. They will never let a strong leadership build in states. Its a national party which doesnt have national outlook and doesnt respect federal structure of the country. BJP is equally bad in not having a national outlook. Both parties takes different stands for same issues in different states.BJP want to divide AP but it supports a united UP. Left parties are not much different. They condemn corruption at center but they stoop to any level and are trying to have a pre election pact with YSR party whose identity itself is out of deep planned organised high level corruption.DMK and AIDMK doesnt at all care about national intersests.TMC is multiple tounged and no ideology party which is incapable.Only leaders who seem capable are Chandrababu Naidu, Modi,Omar, Nitesh Kumar and promising Yadav.None of them are in a position to lead India.
Quite interesting why a high court judge should become a politician and immediately became a chief ministership.
A good approach to any elections is for the party to announce their leader prior to elections. A leader brings vision and character. Hence who will lead is as important as which party will come to power. Voters should have access to this data for taking the right voting decision. In case a party does not want to announce its leader before hand, it should first build a strong leadership brand and culture. THis is very similar to what most successful companies do. They have a robust leadership development process and a healthy leadership pipeline. This is not the case with Congress party. They do not develop leaders.
The bottom line is this - The Nehru family wants to assert themselves and may be keep themselves relevant by keeping the central and state leader decision to
themselves. They should keep the party interests ahead of their dynastic interests. Otherwise it is a matter of time that they as well as the Congress party will become irrelevant to Indian politics.
It is pity Congress never learn from past mistakes. Again the High Command has imposed a person from New Delhi.
Mr.Harish Rawat had worked hard for the success of Congress in the recent elections against the formidable opponent Maj.Gen.B.C.Khanduri led BJP.
By selecting Vijay Bahuguna as Uttarakhand CM,Congress done injustice
for HS Rawat.Leaders should be rewarded by thier hard work and
service,not by their family background.HS Rawat would have been the CM
as he has the support of majority MLAs
Mr HS Rawat and Mr Yashpal Arya were the most deserving candidates from
Congress for the Post of CM.People of Uttarakhand were expecting one of
them to be CM.Mrs Sonia Gandhi has ignored the best candidates.
Both are looking for the place to plunder the State Money . None of them is Intrested in Greater good . Politician of India now days seems like Stinking Mud on the Its Face.
These are temperory repurcussions & will fade out soon, both are matured politicians & would respect people mandate & look with larger perspective in the interest of the party.
Who will think about Our State?
Everyone taking interest for their benefit all Politician make fool to
Garib Janta
We are only valid for Vote?
We have no rights to choose Our Leader?
I am personlly worried about this insident but I am steel in hope that
all will be well
It is unfortunate that Mr HS Rawat has been overlooked for the CM's post.Mr Bahuguna only has been chosen as CM designate because of his proximity to 10 Janpath.Too bad the wrong person has been chosen.I fully support Mr Rawat's descicion to resign from the union cabinet.Hope he forms his own party soon.
harish singh rawat is real face of uttrakhand, a new man appointed as cm without any experience is shame for man who have been fighting in state for years and been on forefront for years, he deserves for c m ,sonia should give him first priority,,,because he has support of maximum members,,
MR. Rawat may be a great man, but he should go by party decisions. When party disciplines are flouted no regards for anti party aactions . When a man errs by his actions he misses the bus.Personal popularity is the ego in Indian politics.When aparty wins and stakes claims to form a govt the traitors sabotage . Hope MR. Rawat may not go that level.Let wisdom prevails on Rawat for not indulging in anti party activities.
nothing to surprice it usual way of congress to impose chief ministers on state but congress leadership must agree that is major reason of dictatorship who has put the party to this bad shape
It is a injustice for HS Rawat who is in politics for years, whereas Vijay Baguguna enjoyed as Allahabad High Court Judge and came to plitics recently. Just because of former CM's son he cannot be appointed as CM of this State. I am in Dehradun since 2007 and I know how Mr HS Rawat was highlighting the issues. Though he is a Central Minister, but he is well known with us for the hard work done by him.
The resignation of Union Minister shows how callously he had taken the
decision. The larger interest of the state is ignored.It is time
leaders like them are made accountable to the people and they cannot
hold on to ransom the mandate of the people. It is high time leaders
learnt the lesson that they are only servant of the people and not
above them. That they voted them to power does not give them any
licence to overlook their aspirations.The major political parties of
the state shall make a criteria that only performing and popular
ministers and legislators shall be given ticket next time to represent
the people. This is more important to reinforce peoples's faith in the
polity.
Please Email the Editor