Uttaranchal: N D Tiwari creates flutter again

After announcing his desire to quit, Uttaranchal Chief Minister N D Tiwari has now expressed his reservation about contesting Assembly elections due early next year, triggering a fresh bout of infighting in the state's ruling Congress.

"I don't want to contest elections," Tiwari said at a function in Dehradun on Wednesday evening at Vidhan Sabha.

Tiwari's infrequent presence during Assembly proceedings has also raised doubts whether he wanted to lead the ruling Congress at the hustings.

He has come only two to three times this year to Vidhan Sabha, which is presently in session.

But Tiwari's fresh announcement has failed to put an end to the growing infighting within the ruling Congress.

Following Tiwari's footsteps, two party legislators -- Kishor Upadhyay and Harak Singh Rawat are also not attending the Assembly session as they are believed to be "upset."

Upadhyay had recently threatened to resign from his Tehri Vidhan Sabha seat after he was allegedly ignored at a local function related to Tehri drinking water project, which was scheduled to be inaugurated by Tiwari.

However, later Tiwari postponed the function for an indefinite period.  

Meanwhile, Harak Singh Rawat is at loggerheads with Education Minister N S Bhandari, who is understood to have supported Nationalaist Congress Party president Surya Kant Dhasmana from Lansedown constituency because of his rivalry with the former.

Rawat has raised the issue with the party high command for alleged covert support being given by Bhandari to Dhasmana from Lansedown.

Following Tiwari's assertion that he did not want to contest elections, Pradesh Congress Committee chief Harish Rawat and Information Minister Indira Hridayesh are being seen as the main candidates who may succeed the chief minister in the event the party high command went for a change of guard in the state.

While over a dozen MLAs support Rawat, MLAs owing allegiance to Tiwari support Hridayesh.