Congress vows to create stable, transparent government in Uttarakhand

Dehradun, Mar 10 (ANI): Congress's Uttarakhand in-charge Chaudhary Virender Singh has vowed to create a stable and transparent government in the state.

"The biggest issue was the need of a stable government which can stay for five years in the state and can work efficiently. The government should work with transparency, have the ability to take decisions for the welfare of the people. These were the major concerns of the independent legislators. They believed that only the Congress party could work smoothly and in a better manner," Singh told media here

When asked who will be state's next chief minister, Singh said the party would make the decision based on the efficiency of the candidate.

"I have clearly said earlier that there will be no restrictions. The lawmakers, the legislators or somebody from outside who will be efficient can become the Chief Minister of the state," he said.

He also lashed out at groups that had not supported the party during the assembly elections.

"There will be two kinds of decisions. Those who have worked against the party, we will not take them. This is our firm decision. One group which is wearing the cap (independent candidate Mantri Prasad Naithani) has worked for us and the other groups are a threat to the party."

The Congress party was comprehensively defeated in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Goa in the recently concluded assembly polls but emerged victorious with a narrow win in Uttarakhand and with a majority in Manipur.

In a close contest in Uttarakhand, Congress party won 32 seats, just one more seat than the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) 31 in the 70-member assembly.

The party claimed the support of three independent candidates and one member from the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) and were able to avoid a hung assembly by reaching 35 seats. (ANI)