Dehradun: Amid frantic efforts to rope in
potential allies, the Congress today said it would form the
government in Uttarakhand after the new CLP leader is chosen
by the party high command.
"Let the new leader be chosen by the party high command,
thereafter we will form government also," said state PCC chief
Yashpal Arya, a day after Congress President Sonia Gandhi was
authorised to chose new leader of the Congress Legislature
Party (CLP).
Congress, which is inching close to form new government,
also claimed that it has mustered the required numbers for the
same.
"We have all the numbers which are enough to form new
government," Arya said.
While Congress has emerged as the single largest party
with 32 seats in the 70-member House, BJP finished one less
seat in a cliff-hanger contest for the state assembly polls.
BSP has won three seats, Uttarkhand Kranti Dal one and
independents three.
He also said a group of observers is also being sent by
the party high command to Dehradun to take views of the newly
elected MLAs.
In the last night meeting of the CLP, Congress General
Secretary and in-charge of party affairs in the state,
Chaudhary Berendra Singh also held separate talks with a host
of newly elected party MLAs in this regard, party sources
said.
Chaudhary is understood to have left for New Delhi to
brief the party high command on the views of the different
groups in Congress as well as those of individuals.
Arya said once the CLP`s new leader is announced, the
party would stake claim before Governor Margaret Alva for the
formation of the new government.
Meanwhile, Dinesh Dhanai, an Independent MLA from Tehri
seat, is understood to have expressed his conditional support
to Congress, party sources said.
The king-maker in the state, however, could be the three
BSP MLAs. Both Congress and BJP are looking to gain the
support of these legislators.
"We will take the direction of our party supremo Mayawati
to decide the future course of action," state BSP chief
Surajmal said.
Pritam Singh Panwar, the lone UKD MLA, is also in high
demand. Top Uttarakhand Kranti Dal leaders said Panwar would
take an appropriate decision himself, but he would certainly
not support the BJP.
PTI
