New Delhi:
With Vijay Bahuguna taking oath as Uttarakhand chief minister amid rebellion in the party's state unit, Congress on Tuesday gently reminded Union Minister Harish Rawat that leadership means overcoming personal feelings even in case of "legitimate disappointment".
Seeking to play down the controversy over the selection of the new chief minister amid rumours of Rawat offering to resign as minister and his supporters crying "injustice", party spokesperson Manish Tewari said party managers will engage in the necessary "interlocution" and it expects that the controversy will be surmounted.
(Read: Vijay Bahugana sworn in as new Uttarakhand chief minister after Harish Rawat rebels)"When there are competing claims, a decision has to be taken... certain people who may be aspiring for certain positions may be having a certain sense of legitimate disappointment... leadership demands that personal feelings need to be surmounted... made subservient to the larger interests," party spokesperson Manish Tewari said.
Mr Tewari at the same time acknowledged that Mr Rawat has been a "long-standing activist and leader of Congress" and has worked his way up from being the student wing leader of the party to his current position in politics.
"At times when there are expectations and legitimate expectations, there can be a certain sense of disappointment as well but those who have served in Congress party for such a long period and have been through the trials and tribulations at times need to take these things in their stride.
"We are hopeful if there is a sense of disappointment, it can be surmounted," Mr Tewari said when asked whether Congress in Uttarakhand is making a repeat of Andhra Pradesh where party MP Jaganmohan Reddy's rebellion led to a split in the party.
The Congress spokesperson, at the same time, stressed that Congress follows a certain process in such matters which was also followed in case of Uttarakhand.
He expressed ignorance when asked whether Mr Rawat sent his resignation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh or Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
Asked whether Mr Rawat has put in his papers, Mr Tewari said, "I have no idea. Only Rawat will know it or a government representative."
Asked whether he submitted any such letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, he replied in a similar vein saying he has no information and will apprise the media if the party has to say something.
Mr Tewari also declined to answer a query about speculation that Mr Rawat had allegedly met BJP president Nitin Gadkari last night. "We do not respond to speculative reports" was his refrain to this question.
Asked whether there could be a split in the party with Mr Rawat's opposition, Mr Tewari expressed confidence that the matter would be sorted out.
A senior leader speaking on condition of anonymity said the party values Mr Rawat's contribution and thinks that disappointments in such hours are natural but expects him to rise above it.
"There is no need to be dismissive about his contribution," the leader said.
Asked how stable the Vijay Bahuguna government will be amid such scenes of revolt, the leader chose to recall that when Bhupinder Singh Hooda was made Haryana chief minister for the first time, there was a similar scene at the residence of then party stalwart Bhajan Lal but there was no threat to the stability of the Hooda government thereafter.
Meanwhile, sources close to Mr Rawat indicated the Union minister is in no mood to take things lying down and is peeved at the party's stand that the decision on Mr Bahuguna is final.
Mr Rawat is likely to assert that it is he who has the numbers with him.
(Read: Behind-the-scenes at Harish Rawat's camp)