Congress to stake claim to form government in Uttarakhand

Dehradun, Mar 9 (ANI): Congress Party will meet Uttarakhand Governor Margaret Alva this afternoon to stake a claim to form the next government in the state.

"Definitely, the Congress is going to stake its claim before the governor today to form the government. Congress has sufficient numbers that are required to form the government. We have the sufficient numbers that are needed to form the government and we will stake the claim today," said Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee President Yashpal Arya.

"See, there is still time. Today we will meet the governor and stake the claim to form the government. The central leadership will take the viewpoints of the elected legislatures here and a final decision will be taken by Congress President Sonia Gandhi," he added, when asked about when will the government be formed in the state.

According to certain reports, Yashpal Arya, a prominent Dalit leader, is the strongest contender for the chief minister's post if the Congress forms the government in Uttarakhand.

Uttarakhand Governor Margaret Alva had on Wednesday informed that no political outfit has yet staked a claim to form the next government in the state.

Governor Alva further said that she had asked incumbent chief minister B.C. Khanduri to carry on in a caretaker capacity until the new government is sworn in.

The verdict of Uttarakhand assembly polls has thrown up an indecisive mandate. Both Congress and the BJP are in line to form the government in the state. Theongress with 32 seats has a one-seat advantage over the BJP.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) with three MLAs holds the key to government formation in Uttarakhand.

Congress, which has emerged as the single largest party in the 70-member House, is at the moment leaving no stones unturned in trying to get the support of the BSP MLAs and independent winners to form the next government in the state. (ANI)