Uttarakhand crisis: Bahuguna confident of finding acceptable solution

New Delhi, Mar 17 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on Saturday expressed confidence about finding a respectable and acceptable solution to the ongoing political crisis in the state, and said the cabinet will tentatively be expanded on March 21.

Bahuguna, who is in the national capital to meet all dissident MLAs supporting Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Congress MP Harish Rawat and find an amicable solution to the standoff, said: "Congress leaders such as Harish Rawat, their roots are so deep within the party that how the BJP even think that they will hurt the Congress. Issues and problems occur within the party, but we believe, I have been in talks with Harish Rawatji. And we are very positive that we will find out a respectable and acceptable solution."

"Moreover, it is not only the duty of the chief minister to run the government, but is also the duty of the Congress Party and the MLAs. I am asking for everybody's support and I believe that we will together form a government there. The cabinet will tentatively be expanded on March 21," he added.

When asked about Rawat now bargaining with the Congress leadership after being denied the top post in Uttarakhand, Bahuguna said: "There is no bargaining. I don't know from where does these talks come from. I would not like to comment on it. He is a very senior leader and colleague. And even he knows what is possible and not."

"First of all, it is our responsibility that the government, which has been formed with the blessings of the people, becomes stable and fulfills all its promises that was given in the election manifesto. For that, I not only require the support of my Congress friends, but also the support of the BJP for development work," he added.

The rebellion in Uttarakhand Congress is continuing even days after the party high command's decision to chose Vijay Bahuguna as the chief minister.

Harish Rawat, who was seen as a frontrunner for the Uttarakhand chief minister's post, had earlier offered to resign from the cabinet following Bahuguna's selection for the top post.

According to reports, Rawat sent his resignation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He had also written to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, saying that he would prefer to work as a party worker.

In the 70-member Assembly, Congress had emerged as the largest party with 32 MLAs and has the support of three independent MLAs and one from UKD. The Bahujan Samaj Party, having strength of three members, has pledged its unconditional support to Congress, raising its tally to 39. (ANI)