Amid Rumours of Change in Guard, U'khand CM Rawat Reaches Dehradun to Sea of Supporters

Dehradun: A day after meeting BJP national president JP Nadda in Delhi over the looming crisis in the Uttarakhand government, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat reached Dehradun on Tuesday and headed to his official residence amid a large gathering of supporters.

Sources told News18 that the chief minister made his position clear during his meeting with Nadda.

Amid discontent within a section of the party MLAs and MPs, Rawat flew to New Delhi on March 8 after being summoned by the party’s top leadership.

The visit came after a sudden meeting of Uttarakhand BJP’s core committee was presided over by the party’s national vice president and former Chhattisgarh chief minister, Raman Singh, on March 6.

However, Uttarakhand BJP chief Bansidhar Bhagat claimed there was no leadership change likely in the state and Saturday’s meeting discussed events to mark the completion of the Rawat-led government’s four years in office. Rawat had to attend several programmes in Gairsain and Dehradun on Monday but they had to be cancelled following the summons from Delhi.

“We are confident government will complete full term in office,” said Munna Singh Chauhan, Rawat’s confidant and party spokesperson.

While the issues of growing resentment among party MLAs and a long overdue cabinet expansion keep raising their heads from time to time, speculations about a leadership change in the state gained momentum after BJP national vice president Raman Singh and state party in-charge Dushyant Kumar Gautam arrived here on Saturday to preside over an unscheduled meeting of the state party’s group. The core group meeting was held at a time when most of the party MLAs and ministers including the chief minister were in Gairsain to attend the important budget session of the state assembly.

Uttarakhand will go to polls early next year and the incumbent government’s four years will complete on March 18. In between, the political crisis has thrown mega preparations planned to celebrate the four years out of gear.

Before meeting Nadda, chief minister called on party’s national media in-charge and Rajya Sabha MP, Anil Baluni, at his residence.

As per sources, the CM camp has asked MLAs to be present at Rawat’s residence in the evening over the dinner.

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