Exit polls favour BJP but Cong confident of retaining U’khand

‘Will form the next govt... have road map for the state’s development in place. Had started executing it after taking over three years ago’

DEHRADUN: Contrary to assembly poll survey results, chief minister Harish Rawat appears sanguine about the ruling Congress returning to power in Uttarakhand. In an interview with HT, Rawat says he will continue execution of his road map for the state’s development to check forced migration from the hills once the new government is formed.

How confident are you about your party’s chances?

We are returning to power and will form the next government.

There are reports suggesting that the state is either headed for a hung assembly or the opposition BJP is likely to form the government.

As I said earlier, we are forming the next government. In fact, our road map for the state’s development is already in place. We had started executing it after I took over a little over three years ago. Its effects have already started showing. There had been a 32% reduction in forced migration from villages to urban areas in that period. We will continue that process once we form our government.

Please elaborate.

When I took over, we initiated a number of initiatives to strengthen the state’s agri-pastoral economy. The step also aims to augment the people’s income so that the migration from villages could be checked.

But you have been accusing the BJPled Centre of not releasing funds…Won’t you face that problem again if you form the next government?

We will generate our own financial resources so that we can freely pursue our growth agenda independent of the central help.

Why has alternative arrangement become necessary?

It had become necessary in the light of last year’s happenings. The Centre kept the state deprived of its annual budget for five months. The move came after they (Centre) toppled our government and replaced it with President’s rule. It was imposed on the flimsy ground of a sting video showing me offering bribes to save my government. But it was restored after we won the Supreme Court-monitored floor test.

But the CBI has lodged a case against you on that basis.

Well, if the Centre persists with that CBI inquiry, Modiji will have to answer to the people in the 2019 general election…It’s a charge that stands demolished after our govt was restored during a SC-monitored floor test. People know that the charge was levelled against a chief minister to harass him.