Rawat group on verge of splitting Congress

 As Vijay Bahuguna took oath as the new Chief Minister of Uttarakhand on Tuesday, the rebellion in the state unit of the Congress party surfaced.

The faction supporting the claim of Union Minister Harish Rawat for the top post in the state, is mulling to split the party and float a new one. Rawat precipitated problem for the Congress as he resigned from the Union minister’s post on Tuesday.

In Dehradun, Bahuguna, a Congress MP, was administered the oath of office and secrecy at a simple ceremony at Parade Ground here by Governor Margaret Alva. However, the function was overshadowed by the revolt by Rawat and his supporters.

According to sources, only 11 of the 32 Congress MLAs were present at the swearing in. Harak Singh Rawat and Indra Hridayesh, aspirants for the chief minister’s post, were conspicuous by their absence.

Rawat told reporters late on Tuesday evening that he had no plans to quit the Congress but would continue to fight for his claim to the chief minister’s post. “I am a Congress worker and will seek redressal of my grievances within Congress forum,” Rawat said. He, however, refused to spell out his next course of action.