New Uttarakhand govt set to take charge tomorrow; BJP MLAs to elect leader today

New Delhi/Dehradun: Even as the stage is almost set for the new Uttarakhand government to be sworn-in tomorrow in Dehradun in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, the Uttarakhand BJP legislature party will elect their new legislature party leader today. Two central observers of the party, union minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha president Saroj Pandey held a meeting with party MLAs yesterday.

The meeting of newly elected 57 MLAs will be held in Dehradun in the presence of central observers and party in-charge of Uttarakhand affairs Shyam Jaju and Uttarakhand BJP president Ajay Bhatt said, sources said here.

Some of the names doing the rounds are Satpal Maharaj, a former Congressman, Trivendra Singh Rawat and Prakash Pant. Pithoragarh MLA Prakash Pant is considered a popular leader from Kumaon region. A former state Minister, he was the first Speaker of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly in 2000 as well. Doiwala MLA Trivendra Singh Rawat is a front runner for the top post.

He also has strong RSS support base and has been associated with the Sangh in the hilly state for long. BJP sources in Delhi said a few names among the sitting MPs were also considered initially but in view of the massive mandate, the party has decided to elect a new Chief Minister from amongst the elected legislators only. (UNI)