Upset over “not being taken into confidence” by the Congress on the Rajya Sabha nominee, its ally the Progressive Democratic Front (PDF), which is providing crucial support to the Harish Rawat government, has named Minister Dinesh Dhanai as its candidate for the Upper House leading to consternation in the ruling camp.
Soon after the Congress announced Pradeep Tamta as its Rajya Sabha nominee from Uttarakhand, the six-member PDF went into a huddle at Cabinet Minister Harish Chandra Durgapal’s residence late in the night, and the head of the group, Mantri Prasad Naithani, formally announced Mr. Dhanai’s candidature.
Making clear its stand against Mr. Tamta’s nomination, Mr. Naithani said the PDF stood by the Congress during the recent political crisis, which culminated in Harish Rawat winning the floor test in the Assembly and his subsequent reinstatement as Chief Minister.
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“Though the PDF had already announced its decision to field a candidate, it was not taken into confidence by the Congress before announcing its RS nominee,” Mr. Naithani said.
The support of the PDF, a front consisting of two BSP MLAs, one Uttarakhand Kranti Dal MLA and three Independents, had been crucial for Mr. Rawat’s victory in the floor test.