Congress to form government in Uttarakhand

The Congress along with three independent candidates staked a claim to form the government in Uttarakhand today. The Congress said they had the support of three independents and one member of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD), taking the total elected representatives supporting them to 36.

[caption id=“attachment_239112” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“The Congress-led alliance will be invited to form the government once they elect their leader. File photo of Congress leader Harish Rawat. Image courtesy PIB”]  [/caption] The three independent MLAs- Dinesh Dhanai from Tehri, Harish Durgapal from Lalkuwa, Mantri Prasad Naithani from Deoprayag, and Pritam Singh Panwar, an MLA from the Uttrakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) submitted letters to the governor stating their support for the Congress alliance

Congress leaders met with Governor Magaret Alva where they staked claim to form the government.

Alva said she would be inviting the Congress-led alliance to form the government in the state. “I have received letters in which it states that 36 elected candidates who are supporting the government, which is the number required for the formation of the government,”  she told reporters soon after the Congress party leaders went to meet her. “They (the alliance) will meet to choose their leader and as soon as they elect their leader I will invite them to form the government,” Alva said.

In the recent elections the Congress emerged as the single largest party with 32 seats, ahead of the Bharatiya Janata Party with 31.