In a fast moving development since Congress complete ouster in recently concluded LS elections from Uttarakhand, state CM Harish Rawat on Monday sacked tourism minister Amrita Rawat from his cabinet of ministers and inducted independent MLA Dinesh Dhane into his cabinet ministry. This decision was taken when three time legislature Amrita, wife of former MP Satpal Maharaj was in Delhi and could not protest in her defence.
State cabinet minister Harak Singh Rawat alleged that he did not get cooperation during pre-poll campaigning from her and her two sons. She was made the scape-goat for his dismal performance from Pauri constituency. BJP candidate Maj. Gen. (ret.) Khanduri defeated Congress candidate Harak Singh Rawat by a huge margin of 1,84, 526 votes from Pauri constituency in recently held LS elections.
Earlier, her MP husband Satpal Maharaj quitted Congress and joined BJP on 21 March, in a much surprised mood and invited CM Rawat to begin sarcastic words against his arch rival.
In a press release, cabinet minister Amrita Rawat clarified her stand by written statement that she has not resigned from the cabinet post on her own, and CM Rawat should make it clear that on what bases he had dropped her name from the cabinet portfolio.
She added, he (Harish) got the hot seat by replacing former CM Vijay Bahuguna by making propaganda that chances of Congress winning even a single seat under his tenure as CM are grim. He assured high command of winning at least three seats under his leadership. Now, the picture is clear after the LS elections are over and who is to blame for the dismal performance of all Congress candidates from five constituencies. On moral ground, he should resign from his CM post and accept the responsibility for the ouster of Congress from the state.
She further said, ‘Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi talked of empowerment of women and participation of 50 percent of women at state and centre level politics. I am legislature thrice from Congress ticket, and this is the way to treat to woman worker of Congress party.’
A BJP leader opined, ‘The coming week can be a political catastrophe in Uttarakhand politics. When large ship sinks, everone becomes desperate to save his/her life. Aftermath of large-scale destruction in Uttarakhand, Modi was denied to meet disaster victims in Kedarnath citing lame execuses. But there was no objection for Yuvraj to go-ahead. Now, the time has changed, and Satpal Maharaj and Modi are in constant touch.’