This Article is From Mar 11, 2012

Congress likely to announce Uttarakhand Chief Minister today

Congress likely to announce Uttarakhand Chief Minister today
Dehradun: The Congress party is likely to announce later today the name of its leader who will head the new government in Uttarakhand. While there are many contenders for the post of new Chief Minister, sources say Harish Rawat is the front runner. The final decision has been left to Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

On Friday, state Congress leaders formally met Governor Margaret Alva and staked claim to form the government after presenting to her letters of support from four MLAs required to reach the magic figure of 36 in a House of 70.

After verifying the support from the three independents and one MLA from UKD, the Governor said she would invite Congress to form the new government once it elects a new leader of the CLP.

"Congress has staked the claim as it has the required number for the formation of new government in the state. When they (Congress) will elect its new leader, I will invite them to form the government," the Governor told reporters. "Once the leader is chosen, the swearing-in ceremony will be held," the Governor added.

The three independents who have extended their support to the Congress are Harish Durgapal from Lal Kuan seat, Mantri Prasad Naithani from Devprayag seat and Dinesh Dhanai from Tehri. The fourth one is the UKD MLA - Pritam Singh Panwar from Yamunotri.

Uncertainty had engulfed government formation in the state following the election results on Tuesday, with no party crossing the halfway mark of 35 members in the state assembly.

The Congress emerged as the single largest party with 32 members followed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with 31.

But with four more legislators backing it, the Congress has 36 members supporting it in the 70-member assembly. (With Agency inputs)
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