Amarinder, Rawat in CM race
Even as the Congress high command is yet to make up its mind on projecting a leader in the states going to Assembly polls in the next three months, Capt. Amarinder Singh, Union minister Harish Rawat and MP Vijay Bahuguna are seen as chief ministerial candidates in Punjab and Uttarakhand.
In Uttar Pradesh, AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav and the RLD’s Jayant Chaudhary would play a key role in nominating a leader, informed sources said, indicating a verdict for hung Assembly.
Capt. Amarinder Singh is seen as a natural choice for the Punjab chief minister if the Congress gets an absolute majority in the January Assembly polls. He is currently heading the Punjab PCC. The Congress had defeated the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP combine under his leadership.
Though CLP leader in Punjab Rajinder Kaur Bhattal too is seen as a strong contender for the post, insiders view that it would be Capt. Singh. In Uttarakhand, the names of Union minister of state Harish Rawat and sitting Lok Sabha member from Tehri Garhwal Vijay Bahuguna are seen as CM candidates.
Mr Rawat had earlier missed the opportunity after the Congress high command nominated party veteran N.D. Tiwari as the CM.
Mr Tiwari did not contest the 2007 state Assembly polls.
Interestingly, no BJP chief minister in Uttarakhand has so far completed a full term after the state was created. Its leaders Nityanand Swami, B.S. Koshiyari, Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal “Nishank” and current CM B.C. Khanduri did not remain in power without a break. But the Congress gave Mr Tiwari a full term.
The Congress is planning to launch the election campaign on the developmental plank during Mr Tiwari’s rule.
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