Trivendra Singh Rawat, the troubled Uttarakhand Chief Minister who returned to Dehradun on Tuesday, is supposed to make a major announcement this evening, according to sources close to the CM’s office.
Stewing unrest within the ruling BJP in Uttarakhand has resurfaced, Trivendra Singh Rawat, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, was in Delhi for a meeting with the BJP leadership, amid rumors that he might be sacked after his own party’s MLAs ranked him “below average.” On Monday evening, he met with BJP President JP Nadda. Mr Nadda met with Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP general secretary BL Santosh earlier in the day to address the situation.
Rawat’s visit to Delhi comes just ten days before his four-year term ends, and two days after BJP national vice-president Raman Singh attended a meeting of the party’s state core committee in Dehradun as a “observer” and talked to members individually.
Rawat arrived in Dehradun on Tuesday, according to party sources, and a meeting of the BJP legislature board, mayor, and district panchayat president has been convened at his residence in the evening. In this conference, the Chief Minister is likely to seek the help of the MLAs present.
After two central party observers, Raman Singh and Dushyant Gautam, were dispatched to Dehradun on Saturday, talk of a leadership change in Uttarakhand ahead of elections next year gained momentum.
Rawat attempted to summon some of the party’s MLAs to the national capital to consult with the central leadership, according to party sources. However, he was told not to undertake “any display of power” and that an MLA meeting could be held in the state capital. Rawat met Baluni on Monday evening as well.
According to state BJP reports, several MLAs and groups have expressed their displeasure with Rawat’s government’s performance to the party’s central leadership and the RSS. Senior MLAs have also demanded that the State Cabinet be expanded, as three berths have been vacant for the past two years.
A change of leadership prior to an election, according to political analysts, is an outright acknowledgment that the administration has done badly and is likely to be used by the opposition to target the governing party.
