Uttarakhand: Harish Rawat wants pound of flesh

With the Congress firm on its choice of Vijay Bahuguna as Uttarakhand chief minister, a sulking Harish Rawat has forwarded a set of demands to the party leadership.

With the Congress firm on its choice of Vijay Bahuguna as Uttarakhand chief minister, a sulking Harish Rawat has forwarded a set of demands to the party leadership.

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Sources said the high command could consider some of these demands, which include a Rajya Sabha seat for his wife Renuka, the appointment of Almora MP Pradeep Tamta as state Congress president, the speaker’s chair for Jageshwar MLA Govind Singh Kunjwal, two posts of deputy chief minister and six cabinet berths for his loyalists.

Besides, Rawat wants four supporters to be made parliamentary secretaries and 65% share in boards and corporations.

The main headache for Bahuguna and the central leadership is to accommodate six Rawat loyalists in a ministry whose strength can’t exceed 12. Besides, the CM has to accommodate three Independents and one UKD(P) MLA. The BSP, with three MLAs, is also demanding its share.

“How can the CM only take Rawat’s supporters? What about the other leaders and factions,” a senior leader asked.

However, the union minister denied having sought a Rajya Sabha seat for his wife or any post for his family members. “Such rumours are being spread by some (mafia elements),” he said.