Chief Minister Harish Rawat today conferredthe Uttarakhand Ratna award on his arch rival and former chief minister Narayan Dutt Tiwarion the occasion of the state's 17th foundation day here.
The gesture was interpreted in the political circles as a smart political move ahead of next year's Assembly election in the state to capitalise on the Congress veteran's influence in the Kumaon region.
Though the nonagenarian leader could not attend the function, Rawat said it was an "expression of gratitude" to Tiwari (91) in recognition of his "outstanding contribution" to the state's development.
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"The state salutes him for laying a strong foundation for its development," he said while announcing the award at a function at the chief minister's official residence.
Tiwari had become the first elected chief minister of Uttarakhand after the 2002 Assembly polls, beating then state Congress chief Rawat in the race for the top post.
The rivalry between the two leaders continued even after Rawat was made a Rajya Sabha MP.
When asked about Tiwari's absence from the function, Rawat's media advisor and spokesman Surendra Kumar said the award will soon be handed over to him.
Apart from Tiwari, several other renowned people from Uttarakhand were also honoured on the occasion, some of them posthumously, including freedom fighter and Peshawar Kand hero Virchand Singh Garhwali, leading freedom fighter Shridev Suman, statehood movement leader Indramani Badoni and Chipko movement protagonist Gaura Devi.
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