One of the nine dissident MlAs, Subodh Uniyal has categorically stated that they would support Congress-led Government in Uttarakhand if the party’s central leadership agrees to move Harish Rawat out of the picture.
Talking about his disqualification from Vidhan Sabha, Uniyal said that this would be the first instance wherein the MlAs have themselves stated that they had violated the party whip on appropriation bill but biased Assembly speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal had disqualified the MlAs on absurd grounds.
Stressing that the dissidents would accept nothing less than removal of Harish Rawat, Uniyal claimed that several MlAs including former ministers are in touch with them and have expressed their desire to join their bandwagon. However, he refused to comment on who would be the new Chief Minister if Congress removes Harish Rawat.
It would be pertinent to mention here that on March 18, opposition had demanded division of vote on Appropriation bill from the Speaker but Speaker denied. While the Speaker was announcing that budget has been passed by voice vote, nine dissident Congress MlAs—Harak Singh Rawat, Vijay Bahuguna, Subodh Uniyal, Shailendra Mohan Singhal, Pranav Singh ‘Champion’, Amrita Rawat, Shaila Rani Rawat, Pradeep Batra and Umesh Sharma ‘Kau’ came into the well of the house.
The then Cabinet Minister Harak Singh Rawat came to media gallery and announced the names of the nine dissidents and claimed that Harish Rawat Government had been reduced to a minority because the dissident MlAs were against appropriation bill. On that fateful day 35 (BJP 26 and Congress 9) out of 67 MlAs excluding Ganesh Joshi, Bhimlal Arya and Haridas were demanding division of vote on appropriation bill.
He further said that every minister in the then Harish Rawat government was feeling suffocated so Harak Singh Rawat, who refused to budge under pressure, walked out from treasury bench.
“We had complained to the governor on same night about the speaker’s prejudice,” said Uniyal. He also reiterated that senior Congress leaders are in touch with the dissidents who have conveyed their message clearly to the effect that they will not withdraw their dissent unless and until high command removes Harish Rawat.
He reiterated that except seven, who are being considered as close confidants of Harish Rawat, out of 27 after disqualification of nine Congress MlAs as per the speaker’s decision are eagerly waiting for high command’s move. They may join the dissidents at any given point of time but currently they have adopted wait and watch policy.
As far as formation of a new party is concerned, Uniyal said that “if they do not accept our demand then we may revive the party, which was founded after separation from Congress by late Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna, father of MlA and ex CM Vijay Bahuguna and Ex CM of Uttar Pradesh. later HN Bahuguna had formed new party known as Congress for Democracy (CFD) due to then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s autocratic attitude.
He further said, “We are in favour of formation of Government but not in favour of Harish Rawat led Uttarakhand government. As you know that violation of whip is termination of membership from Vidhan Sabha but we did it because former CM was trying to crush everyone including Cabinet ministers. He was running a one-man show and even then ministers were feeling suffocated.”
He stressed that most of the ex-Cabinet ministers had extended their moral support but could not muster the courage to take risk in their political life. Now they are in touch with them and will opt to revolt if Congress high command again tries to impose Harish Rawat as Chief Minister of Congress led Uttarakhand Government.