Cong. likely to take back rebel leaders in U’khand

BJP too pacifies its disgruntled mantri

After diffusing the crisis in its state unit, the Congress seems to be in an expansionist mode in the state.

In an internal survey conducted by the Congress, the party feels that it can form the next government in the state if it plays its cards correctly.

After receiving the feedback, the Congress high command is in no mood to let the state go. The Congress is ready to take back leaders with a mass base who left the party in order to consolidate its position in the upcoming elections.

Couple of weeks ago, the party agreed to the ‘ghar wapasi’ of Mr. Yashpal Arya and his son who had left the Congress for greener pastures. Mr. Arya is a senior Dalit leader and also had a state wide presence.

Speculations are rife that minister in the Uttarakhand government Mr. Harak Singh Rawat may also join back the Congress.

He was earlier in the Congress and led a rebellion in March 2016 against the then chief minister and Congress leader Mr. Harish Rawat. Insiders claim several other leaders who had left the Congress in 2016 rebellion are in touch with the Congress; some want to join without any demands while the others want tickets and other positions for them and their relatives.

Hectic parleys are being held between them and the Congress leaders as the election dates are approaching.

A senior leader in the know of things on the condition of anonymity said, “the Congress is on a high in the state the people want us back. We are in touch with several of our leaders who had left us. Those of whom are mutually beneficial will be taken back and you will be surprised at the names in the days to come.”

He added that this time the Congress is leaving ‘no loose ends’.

Dehradun, Dec. 25: BJP MLA Umesh Sharma Kau, who had been assigned the task of dissuading Uttarakhand minister Harak Singh Rawat amid reports about his likely resignation, said on Saturday that Rawat’s grievance has been addressed and no one is going anywhere.

He said the issue has been settled with the intervention of the central leadership and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. His proposal for a medical college in Kotdwar has been accepted and he has also been assured that the budget for the project will be released by Monday, Kau said.

When asked whether Rawat had agreed not to resign, the MLA from Raipur said “no one was going anywhere”. “We will all work as true soldiers of the BJP,” Kau said. Pradesh BJP president Madan Kaushik also refuted reports about Rawat's resignation, saying “all is well”.

Rawat left a cabinet meeting in a huff late on Friday night, triggering speculation that he might resign from Dhami’s cabinet. Sources said Rawat left the meeting as he was angry that a proposal for a medical college in his assembly constituency Kotdwar was not being cleared by the cabinet.

However, the Pradesh BJP president denied that Rawat had resigned, telling a news channel that reports about his resignation were just a rumour.

There was also talk about the resignation of Kau. However, the MLA’s son Gaurav Sharma denied this saying they were surprised when the news was flashed by some TV channels on Friday night.

Interestingly, Kau received a call from Delhi soon after the speculations began and he went to meet Rawat apparently to dissuade him.

Both Harak Singh Rawat and Kau were among ten MLAs who had rebelled against Harish Rawat in 2016 and crossed over to the BJP. Harak Singh Rawat is the forest minister in Dhami’s cabinet.

● HARAK SINGH RAWAT had left the cabinet meeting in a huff late on

Friday night, triggering speculation that he might resign from cabinet.