In his nomination papers, Rawat has only mentioned the name of Renuka Rawat as his spouse. Shishir Prashant reports.
Rawat, who thanked Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and other party leader for lending support, said the state would need active support of the central government and that he would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
While many exit polls have given either the Bharatiya Janata Party or Congress a majority in Uttarakhand, several of them have predicted a close fight between the two major players or a hung assembly -- a scenario in which the role of winning independents and candidates of regional outfits like the Aam Aadmi Party, the Samajwadi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal will become significant in government formation.
The Congress had governments in eight states in 2014, but now, the number might come down to five.
Sulking Congress leader Harish Rawat on Sunday said he has not received any "concrete proposals" from the Congress leadership to end the stalemate in Uttarakhand but has no intention of destabilising the Vijay Bahuguna government.
The CBI on Sunday asked Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat to appear before the agency on May 24 in connection with a probe into the sting operation involving him.
For the first time Uttarakhand's Vidhan Sabha session will be held outside Dehradun in a tent at Gairsain in Chamoli district of the hill state.
The crisis in the ruling Uttarakhand Congress persisted as 17 of the 32 party members of Legislative Assembly supporting Union Minister Harish Rawat, abstained from taking oath in Uttarakhand assembly on Thursday.
Inability to take everyone along during his nearly four-year term led to Trivendra Singh Rawat's undoing. He tried to take control of all major departments by holding on to more than 40 of them, but still could not deliver.
Unfazed by the revolt by Union Minister Harish Rawat, Congress high command has ruled out any re-think over the issue of chief ministership in Uttarakhand, declaring that party MP Vijay Bahuguna will take oath as the new chief minister on Tuesday as scheduled.
The development came even as Uttarakhand is set to have a vote of confidence on Tuesday to determine whether Congress leader Harish Rawat has enough numbers to retain power in the state that is currently under the President's Rule.
BJP has left people guessing about who would get the top office if the latter is voted to power, the presence of too many strong turncoats on its side only adding to the confusion.
the simmering discontent deep in the two parties is likely to mar the prospects of some candidates, making the contest keen, reports Shishir Prashant.
Putting up a brave front, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday asserted the Harish Rawat government remains in a minority and it will be proved on April 29 when it takes the floor test, after the Uttrakhand high court restored the Congress government, revoking the President's rule.
The Congress high command on Saturday assured rebel Uttarakhand leader Harish Rawat that he will get his due but ruled out any change in the post of chief minister. The name of Rawat's wife Renuka is being considered among a few others for Rajya Sabha nomination for the lone vacant seat from the hill state, All India Congress Committee general secretary Chaudhary Birender Singh said.
Despite the ongoing rift in the Punjab Congress, party leader Harish Rawat on Tuesday said that all is well in the state and expressed confidence in its victory in the forthcoming assembly polls.
Hailing the Uttarakhand high court's verdict, Harish Rawat on Friday said that the centre must not disturb the federal structure for ulterior motives.
Addressing a press conference in Dehradun, Harish Rawat accused the BJP-led central government of 'killing democracy' by using its brute majority to cause 'political instability' in a small state.
Harish Rawat's political one-upmanship weakened the party; nine MLAs who left won on BJP tickets.
Suspense continued on Sunday over who would lead the Congress-led government in Uttarakhand, with top leaders from the state and the Centre huddled in the national capital to decide on the new chief minister.
From Congress to BJP and back to Congress, Yashpal Arya, who was Uttarakhand's transport and excise minister in the Dhami government till the other day, has resigned and returned to his womb. But he is not the only one in the Land of the Gods to do so, reports Shishir Prashant.
Former Uttarakhand CM and Congress leader Harish Rawat alleged that the state government wants an immediate discussion on the UCC bill despite nobody having a draft copy of it.
Dhami, who is a two-time MLA from Khatima in Udham Singh Nagar district, replaces Tirath Singh Rawat who resigned on Friday night.
Indicating that the leadership feud in Uttarakhand Congress was far from over, Union Minister Harish Rawat on Wednesday held consultations with his supporters while making it clear he would not quit the party.
The political crisis for the Congress in Uttarakhand appears to have blown over on Wednesday with Union minister and rebel leader Harish Rawat falling in line amid speculation that a compromise deal has been worked out by the party leadership.
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi mentioned the appeal before a bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and Shiva Kirti Singh, which asked him to approach the Registry for listing it for hearing on Friday itself.
Chief Minister Harish Rawat lost both seats he contested.
The BJP expelled Harak Singh Rawat from the primary membership of the party for six years on Sunday amid speculations that he was joining the Congress.
The CBI has found the sting CD genuine, the sources said.
Nine ministers also take oath. Satpal Maharaj, Harak Singh Rawat, Madan Kaushik, Arvind Pandey, Subodh Uniyal,Yashpal Arya and Prakash Pant have been made Cabinet ministers.
Another MLA Rekha Arya, who was also supposed to join the BJP on Wednesday, is visiting the Simhasth Kumbh in Ujjain, but has sent her acceptance to the party.
CM Harish Rawat condemned the imposition of President's rule in the state as a "murder" of democracy and said PM Narendra Modi's hands were dipped in the "blood".
With the Congress government in crisis in Uttarakhand after nine party members of Legislative Assembly, including a minister, joined hands with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party overnight, Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Saturday asserted that the welfare of the state was his priority and added that he would tender his resignation if he was not able to prove majority.
Describing the Harish Rawat government in Uttarakhand as "one steeped in corruption", Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah on Saturday asked the people to dislodge it from power and help the lotus "bloom" in the state.
Rubbishing the allegations, the Uttarakhand CM said that the CD presented was totally fake, adding that efforts were being made to tarnish the image of the Congress-led state government.
While listing the matter for hearing on April 27, the bench said that the high court shall provide the judgement passed on Thursday to the parties by April 26 and on the same date the copy of the verdict shall also be placed before the apex court.
'He has been made CM of Uttarakhand because everybody thinks he is not a challenge to anyone.'
It is for the second time that hearing of their appeal has been postponed by the single bench of the high court which had earlier posted the matter for hearing on Friday.
'You can attack and conspire to weaken us, but you cannot destroy the Congress permanently.'
Over 74 lakh voters will seal the fate of 628 candidates in electronic voting machines between 8 am to 5 pm when polling concludes, state Election office informed.
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