Injury forces Rawat to pick Hridayesh as his delegate

CM all set to contest bypolls from hospital bed

With doctors advising him strict bed rest, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat, who is recuperating from an injury at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, has been forced to delegate some of his powers to his cabinet colleague Indira Hridayesh as a pro tem arrangement to complete urgent government works.

Rawat had been bed ridden at AIIMS in New Delhi after he received serious internal neck injury in a disturbed plane flight to New Delhi on June 13.

"Through a stopgap arrangement, Indira Hridayesh can use some of the CM's power while taking very important decisions where the CM's presence is necessary," said Surendra Kumar, media spokesperson Rawat.

Kumar also said Rawat will continue to be in hospital for some more time.

Rawat is also in dilemma whether he should go for operation as being advised by doctors.

Significantly, the injury to Rawat has come at a time when he is contesting election from Dharuchula and Doiwala constituencies to enter Vidhan Sabha under the constitutional obligations.

Rawat has been advised not to campaign during the election, official sources said.

This also means that he would contest election from the hospital itself and not even come for filing his nomination papers. "The CM can file nomination papers through his representative," said top officials of the state electoral office.