Uttarakhand CM Tirath Singh Rawat resigns

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat. (File photo : PTI )

DEHRADUN (TIP): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat resigned late Friday, July 2 night even as the BJP Legislature Party meeting is expected to be held in Dehradun on Saturday, July 3 to choose his successor.

BJP sources said that Cabinet Minister and senior BJP leader Narendra Singh Tomar will attend the meeting as the Central observer. The meeting is scheduled to be held at 3 pm on July 3 under the chairmanship of state president Madan Kaushik, said state’s media in-charge Manveer Singh Chauhan. Rawat said due to the Constitution limitations he has decided to submit his resignation.

The names of Pushkar Dhami, Ritu Khanduri, Dhan Singh Rawat and Satpal Maharaj are doing the rounds to replace Tirath Singh.

Earlier, Rawat, who was in Delhi where he had met BJP chief J.P. Nadda twice in three days, left for Dehra Dun. Rawat, who had met Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah late on Wednesday night, is currently the MP from the Garhwal Lok Sabha seat, and as per the rules, needs to be sworn in as an elected MLA within six months of taking over as the Chief Minister.

Earlier in the day, Rawat met the BJP chief again to discuss the political situation and the need of his election to the state Assembly before September 10 to remain in office.

Before leaving for Uttarakhand capital, Rawat said that holding of by polls will be decided by the Election Commission and he will follow whatever the Central leadership of the party decides.

BJP national General Secretary and Uttarakhand in-charge, Dushyant Gautam told IANS that there was no discussion of Uttarakhand by-polls held at the party level.

A party leader explained that after the meeting with the Central leadership, the indications are that it will be difficult for the Chief Minister to continue in the office.

Sources said that Nadda had explained to Rawat that Section 151 of Representation of the People Act, 1951 has created hindrance in his election to the Assembly.

“In an hour-long meeting on Wednesday, June 28,  night at Home Minister Amit Shah’s residence, all the possibilities were discussed and Rawat was explained about exception provided under Section 151 of Act for not holding by-elections — if the remainder of the term in relation to the vacancy is less than a year or if the Election Commission, in consultation with the Centre, certifies that it is difficult to hold the by-election within the said period,” a party insider said.

(With inputs from IANS)

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