Bahuguna at loggerheads with Rawat over RS seat

A war of words is brewing between Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat and his political foe and former chief minister Vijay Bahuguna, after the latter's intensified efforts for a Rajya Sabha seat.

Bahuguna, an MLA from Sitarganj constituency, was meeting senior Congress leaders in New Delhi to lobby for a Rajya Sabha seat. Bahuguna has expressed displeasure over the functioning of the state government. A Congress leader said: "Basically, Bahuguna wants a Rajya Sabha seat for himself for which he can go to any length."

Bahuguna could not be contacted for comments.

There were also some news reports that Bahuguna had met BJP leader Satpal Maharaj. But Maharaj denied it. "Why will I meet Bahuguna? These are baseless reports," said Maharaj.

Rawat had been vehemently opposed by the Bahuguna camp after he said he will stop unnecessary official junkets to curtail expenditure. Uttarakhand Agriculture Minister Harak Singh Rawat, known to be close to Bahuguna, had opposed the move. He has gone on man trips abroad.

Harak Singh Rawat's opposition is being seen as a severe setback to the reformist move of Rawat.

Nevertheless, the recent by-election victory of the Congress gave Rawat a much-needed relief. Before that, the chief minister was facing severe infighting in the party. After a change of guard in February this year, Rawat's political rival, Bahuguna, was at loggerheads with him.

Bahuguna has been seeking Cabinet seat for his staunch supporters, such as Subodh Unniyal, and a Rajya Sabha seat for himself. But this demand is not acceptable to the chief minister. After the by-elections, some MLAs in the Bahuguna camp have switched sides or are neutral.