The Congress in Uttarakhand might be enthusiastic about AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi’s planned visit to Dehradun on February 22, but delay in allocation of portfolios to Cabinet Ministers is giving rise to discontent, which might not present a picture of unity in the party. Congress State in-charge Ambika Soni and Chief Minister Harish Rawat have, on different occasions, exhorted the party cadre to remain patient and unite to achieve victory in the coming general elections.
However, factionalism and discontent appear to be rife in the party even though the CM is deftly trying to handle the situation. Political observers opine that prominent leaders who are raising questions might be doing so with an eye on the portfolio allocation to the Cabinet Ministers.
Though party leaders continue to deny factionalism and downplay dissatisfaction within the Congress, the absence of Garhwal MP Satpal Maharaj from the Pradesh Congress Committee meeting held on the weekend and the objections raised by Cabinet Minister Harak Singh Rawat present a different picture. While Maharaj is still said to be miffed at not being made the Chief Minister, Harak Singh Rawat recently expressed his displeasure at former Cabinet Minister Tilak Raj Behar being made the chairman of Uttarakhand State Seed and Organic Production Certific-ation Agency without him being taken into confidence.
On Sunday, Harak Singh Rawat said that he had also worked as the chairman of USSOPCA and was also the Agriculture Minister before Harish Rawat was made CM. Stating that he should have been taken into confidence before Behar’s appointment, Harak Singh Rawat said that if asked by the CM, he would not take a minute to resign from ministership while adding that the CM may have made him a Cabinet Minister, but it was the people who had elected him an MlA.
Political analysts believe that both Maharaj and Rawat might be exerting pressure on the CM with an eye on the portfolio allocations to cabinet ministers. Though the delay in allocation of portfolios is causing dissatisfaction among the cabinet ministers and providing a reason for the Opposition to corner the State government, both Soni and the CM have stated that the allocation would be made after conclusion of the ongoing budget session in the Assembly. Observers opine that Maharaj might be trying to exert pressure to get important portfolios for his wife and cabinet minister Amrita Rawat while Harak Singh Rawat might also be expressing ‘displeasure’ with an eye on portfolio allocation. On Monday the cabinet minister extolled the previous CM Vijay Bahuguna for the work done during his tenure. Responding to this the CM said that past generally looks good.