A long-time RSS pracharak, the BJP's Trivendra Singh Rawat, 56, today took over as the ninth Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, the state that he had campaigned should be carved out of Uttar Pradesh back in the nineties. The BJP had swept the hill state in the state elections with 57 of the 70 seats in the state; Mr Rawat is said to have played a key role in the party's strategy in the victory.