After surviving the coup staged by nine rebels in conjunction with BJP thanks to the favourable rulings of the judiciary, Chief Minister Harish Rawat is now facing another challenge a formidable one in the form of the rising number of aspirants greedily eying the coveted berths in his cabinet. Notably, two berth are now vacant, one fell vacant after the BSP minister Surendra Raksh died and the other after Harak Singh Rawat, one of the nine rebels, was dismissed. Three aspirants are staring at the two berths and it is becoming increasingly difficult for the Chief Minister to zero in on two with the exclusion of the third.
Observers say that taking the final call on filling the vacant berths is difficult, given the fact that all the three are competent to claim them.
They are Navprabhat from Vikasnagar, Rajendra Singh BhandarI from Badrinath and Sarbat Karim Ansari from Manglour.
“Things are doubly difficult for the CM to choose as the issue of the nine rebels is still alive. In case the Supreme Court overturns the High Court’s order and reinstates them as MlAs they might bring about a no-confidence motion. Keeping this prospect in view, Harish Rawat can hardly ignore the claim of any of the three, a thing which he must do, left with no other option,” an observer says.
The trio remained loyal to Harish Rawat when the latter was passing through the gloomiest period of his political career.
Navprabhat briefed the media to explain things favourably for the Speaker. He took pains to explain how the Speaker’s action in disqualifying the MlAs was justified under the section he took recourse to. He also made it a point to stay inside the court during the hearings. He endeared himself to Harish Rawat so much so that the latter offered him his chair when he was briefing the media about the technicalities of sections of Vidhan Sabha proceedings and articles of the Indian Constitutions to explain the justifiability of the Speaker’s action. When the media congratulated him for Rawat swapping chairs with him Navprabhat said he was disappointed with the negative role of media regarding his claim to a berth in the State cabinet. He exhorted the media to back his claim. Indira Hridayesh who was present there smiled a comprehending smile. Things were clear that in case power was restored to Harish Rawat Navprabhat was most likely to step into the expanded State cabinet.
Again, the claim of the the Badrinath MlA Rajendra Singh Bhandari, considered a close confidante of BJP stalwart Satpal Maharaj, is strong. Notably, he stuck to Rawat steadfastly even after his mentor Maharaj beseeched him to switch over to BJP during the political crisis. Talking to The Pioneer Srinagar MlA Ganesh Godiyal sounded confident that Bhandari’s entry is certain.
There are reasons too. Bhandari enjoyed cabinet berth when he was an independent MlA between 2007 and 2012. later, when he won the Assembly election on a Congress ticket he was denied cabinet berth. He was frustrated and yet he chose to cling to Harish Rawat despite lucrative offer given by BJP in lieu of his switch.
Observers say that Rawat is likely to induct the Badrinath MlA to keep BJP away from consolidating its sway over the region he is a representative of. Congress was weakened considerably after Maharaj left the party to join BJP.
Moreover, BSP deserves a berth, given the role the party played in the Congress wining the trust vote. The party has two MlAs. BJP put out all the stops to lure them away from the Congress. Had the BJP succeeded the floor test would have turned sour for the Congress and Harish Rawat. Notably, three independents- Dinesh Dhanai, Harish Chandra Durgapal and Mantri Prasad Naithani and UKD (P) MlA Preetam Singh Panwar-all of the PDF of which BSP is a member- have been enjoying cabinet berths. However, the same has remained elusive for BSP. It is certain that one of two would be inducted.
Thus, things are delicately poised for the Congress. It would have to choose one of the two-Navprabhat and Bhandari. “Things look dicey. Any wrong step on the political sweepstakes might precipitate another crisis. Ten MlAs have deserted the party folds. The party brass can hardly risk another,” an observer said.