Concerned over the intense groupism in the party's Uttaranchal unit ahead of Assembly polls, Congress president Sonia Gandhi directed Chief Minister N D Tiwari and PCC chief Harish Rawat on Thursday to bury their differences and work together for the party's victory.
"The party high command has directed the two leaders to work unitedly. Tiwari and Rawat have assured that they will abide by the leadership," AICC treasurer Moti Lal Vora, who is also in charge of party affairs in the state, told reporters after marathon meetings the duo had with Gandhi.
The chief minister and the PCC chief, who are at odds with each other, were called by Gandhi to sort out their differences in the wake of the Assembly polls early next year. Rawat's supporters have been demanding change of leadership ever since he was denied chief ministership.
However, Tiwari, who had two rounds of talks with Gandhi and senior party leaders Vora and Ahmed Patel, told reporters that he met the party chief to invite her to inaugurate Tehri Dam project some time next month.
The two leaders apprised the high command about the political situation in the state and the strategies needed to face the polls early next year. Asked if their differences have been sorted out, Vora said "Yes. Rawat has assured all the support to the chief minister".
To a specific query whether the issue of leadership change figured in Thursday's meeting, Vora said, "Only strategy related to assembly elections in the state was discussed. No other matter came for discussion."
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