Tirath Singh Rawat sworn-in as new CM of Uttarakhand

Dehradun: BJP's surprise choice for the top job in Uttarakhand Tirath Singh Rawat, MP from Pauri Garhwal Lok Sabha constituency, was sworn-in as the state's new Chief Minister on Wednesday, replacing Trivendra Singh Rawat ahead of next year's Assembly polls.

The oath of office was administered on Rawat by Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya at a simple function held at the Raj Bhawan here in the evening in the presence of a host of dignitaries.

Rawat alone was sworn-in on Wednesday, which means the members of his Cabinet will be finalised and sworn-in later.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Rawat and said he brings with him vast administrative and organisational experience. Modi expressed confidence that under Rawat's leadership, the state will continue to scale new heights of progress. Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal "Nishank", who was also being considered a contender for the post, said Rawat was a good choice.

Though a first-time MP, Rawat has held key organisational positions with the party, both in the state and at the Centre. He was the state's first education minister, a part of the interim government when Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh. He went on to become the state BJP president from 2013 to 2015 and is now a national secretary.

Known as a simple and down-to-earth leader, Rawat takes over the reins of power in Uttarakhand at a time when the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is preparing for the state Assembly polls due early next year. His principal challenge will be to ensure the party another term in office.

Earlier in the day, Rawat was elected as the leader of the Uttarakhand BJP legislature party, which came as a surprise to many as his name was not among the nearly half-a-dozen names doing the rounds in the media over the last few days as contenders for the top post.

Interestingly, four years ago for the 2017 Assembly elections, BJP did not give the ticket to Tirath Singh Rawat. In place of Rawat, Satpal Maharaj from Congress was given the ticket. Despite this, he neither left nor rebelled against the party, but played an important role in Satpal Maharaj's victory.

After the celebrations at the state party office in the presence of senior leaders, MLAs and MPs, Rawat went to the Raj Bhawan to meet the governor and stake his claim to form the government.

After being congratulated by the outgoing chief minister and the BJP's central observer and national vice-president Raman Singh, Rawat thanked the top leadership of the saffron party for giving him the new responsibility.

"I am a small party worker from a village. I had never imagined that I will be a given an opportunity like this by the party. I hope that with everyone's cooperation and blessings, I will fulfil the expectations from me," he said.