New Delhi:
The Congress' Uttarakhand crisis refused to die down on Sunday with sulking Union Minister Harish Rawat saying he has not received any 'concrete' proposals from the central leadership to compensate him. Mr Rawat, who was ignored by the party for the Chief Minister's post in the state, indicated his unhappiness, saying though he's not in the race for Chief Minister's post anymore, but some issues still remain.
"It's not just about Harish Rawat not becoming the Chief Minister; there are several other co-related issues. I had initially stated that the party will decide who will be the Chief Minister," Mr Rawat said.
He said this after he and Uttarakhand's new chief minister Vijay Bahuguna met Congress President Sonia Gandhi and senior party leaders in Delhi today to resolve the issue.
Interestingly, after the meeting Mr Bahuguna said that everything was sorted out.
"Let's just say that the small misunderstandings we had in our family have now been resolved. Tomorrow is the Rajya Sabha nominations; So all the Congress MLAs will be in Dehradun. We will win that election. Cabinet Election will be on the 20th or 21st," Mr Bahuguna said.
However, Mr Rawat seemed far from appeased. He said that it is up to the Congress party to decide how to find a solution, adding, "I am not in race for CM but hard work must be rewarded."
Sources told NDTV that Mr Rawat camp wants key ministries including the post of Assembly Speaker. However, Mr Rawat said that he and his supporters are are not bargaining for posts in the Uttarakhand cabinet.
"It is the party's prerogative to reject a claim. We do not want any deadlock. We want the government to run wonderfully for five years. We are not bargaining," he added.
The Congress had said yesterday that Mr Rawat will be given "his due" but ruled out changing Vijay Bahuguna as Chief Minister.
Congress general secretary in-charge, Chaudhary Birender Singh, made it clear that the party high command was not thinking of having any Deputy Chief Minister at present amid reports that rebels were demanding two deputy CM posts. "The high command wants to give Rawat his due" he said, noting at the same time that Mr Bahuguna was chosen Chief Minister after due consideration.
Mr Bahuguna, who faces the daunting task of winning trust vote on the floor of the state assembly in the wake of revolt against his leadership, told reporters in Dehradun yesterday that "talks are on" to defuse the crisis.