Whether it is customary on part of the guest or otherwise, Chief Minister Harish Rawat heaped glowing praise on his Cabinet colleague and MlA from Haldwani Assembly Constituency Indira Hridayesh while performing the customary ‘bhumi pujan’ for the proposed international standard sports stadium at Haldwani’s Golapaar area on Thursday.
“She is the senior most leader in the State Congress after the veteran ND Tiwari. I may be the Chief Minister, but we are all working under her guidance,” said the Chief Minister. “So we appeal to her to take all along in the party and in the Government. Only then could we work together for the betterment of the people of the hill State,” Rawat further said.
Earlier, while addressing the gathering, Haridayesh also did not forget to remember veteran Tiwari, saying they all have learnt from Tiwariji. But as her supporters and Congress leaders here maintain, Haridayesh is also trying to step into Tiwari’s shoes by untiringly stressing on the development of the region.
She said it took her about nine years since 2005 to bring this international sports stadium at Golaapar at the implementing stage. The proposed modern international standard stadium will be equipped with all the modern sports facilities like the indoor badminton stadium, separate ground for cricket, football and other sports activities, apart from a pavilion. It will doubtless go a long way to promote sports activities in the region, she said.
No matter how much the Chief Minister condescends to appreciate the contribution of his colleagues in the Government and in the party there is not even a shadow of doubt about the fact that he is presently calling the shots in both. The drubbing that his bête noir Vijay Bahuguna has received in the nomination for the solitary Rajya Sabha seat from the State has made it clear as day light that Rawat’s clout is supreme in the party roosts.