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Senior Congress leader Satpal Maharaj on Friday quit the ruling party and joined BJP, a move that may trigger yet another round of political drama in Uttarakhand following a change of guard last month.
The resignation of Maharaj came in the wake of his growing differences with Chief Minister Harish Rawat especially after he was not considered for the top job in the hill state. Maharaj was also peeved after his wife and state tourism minister Amrita Rawat was dragged in an alleged polyhouse scandal and not given the horticulture portfolio. After joining BJP, Maharaj, however, blamed the state government for ignoring the plight of the natural disaster-affected people.
Significantly, the resignation of Maharaj may not affect the coalition government immediately in the light of strong anti-defection laws, top Congress leaders opined. However, they said it all depends on the results of the general elections. “If BJP comes to power at the centre, it may not auger well for the ruling Congress in our state,” said a Congress leader. On the other hand, state Congress spokesman Surendra Kumar only said “our government is stable and will complete its full term.”
Maharaj, having a considerable following in the Garhwal region, is being supported by 4-5 MLAs in the ruling Congress including his wife Amrita. The resignation of Maharaj is also likely to cast a shadow on the Congress-led coalition government which is being supported by the 7-member Progressive Democratic Front (PDF), a pressure group of three BSP MLAs and four independents. Congress has strength of 33 MLAs in the 70-member House.
In a strong reaction, state education minister Mantri Prasad Naithani, who is convener of the PDF, said his forum will review the coalition arrangement and take a decision shortly. “I have invited all the MLAs of the PDF for talks (on the issue) and will take decision shortly,” said Naithani, who is an ardent supporter of Maharaj.
Naithani said Maharaj was forced to quit Congress because of the injustice being meted to him. “He (Maharaj) was not considered for the post of chief minister and then his name was also not considered for the post of the state party president. So obviously, he quit the Congress party in disgust,” said Naithani.
