Zee Media Bureau
Dehradun: Union Minister and front runner for Chief Minister`s post in Uttarakhand, Harish Rawat was caught on camera slapping a Congress worker here on Saturday.
Rawat, who is tipped to be appointed as the new Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, today arrived here to a resounding reception by his supporters amid beating of drums and presentation of Kumaoni folk dances.
Though his appointment as the new chief minister is being considered almost final, a formal announcement in this regard will be made after a meeting of the CLP which is scheduled to be held at the Bijapur State guest house in the presence of central observers.
Uttarakhand CM Vijay Bahuguna had resigned from his post yesterday. He has been under pressure ever since was anointed for the top job. Bahuguna had to face public irk after the failure of his government to handle the 2013 flash floods. His government`s alleged delayed response to the calamity with rescue operations being launched about four to five day after the disaster brought in bitter criticism, prompting the part high command to look for a substitute for him.
Incidentally, delegations of MLAs and other Congress leaders from the state had been regularly meeting central party leaders here over the past six months to press for Bahuguna`s ouster. The Congress, with 33 members in the Assembly, enjoys the support of the seven-member Progressive Democratic Front that comprises three independents, three members of the BSP and one MLA of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal. The remaining 30 MLAs are of the BJP.
Rawat who lost to Bahuguna in the race for CM in 2012 has been in pursuit of the post but the party high command had not been enthusiastic as it was felt it could intensify factionalism in the deeply-divided state unit of the party.
