'The talks are on,' embattled Bahuguna, who faces the daunting task of winning the trust vote on the floor of the state assembly in the wake of revolt against his leadership..
The Congress High Command is holding talks with the warring factions to defuse the crisis in the fledgling party-led government in Uttarakhand even as rebel leader Harak Singh Rawat rubbished media reports that he was offered the post of the Deputy Chief Minister.
"The talks are on," embattled Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, who faces the daunting task of winning the trust vote on the floor of the state assembly in the wake of revolt against his leadership, told PTI by telephone from Delhi.
Harak Singh Rawat, an MLA and a close confidant of sulking Union Minister Harish Rawat, an aspirant for the CM's post, said though the talks are continuing, he was not sure about its positive outcome.
Asked whether the Party High Command could still consider a change of guard in the hill state, he said this possibility was ruled out.
When asked why he did not take oath as an MLA, Harak Singh Rawat said he was not in a hurry.
"I have been Minister and an MLA for so many years. I have seen all this and I am not in a hurry," said Rawat who came here this morning to see his ailing sister.
He denied media reports that he was being offered the post of the Deputy Chief Minister. "All these reports are wrong."
Yesterday, Bahuguna met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and said he was confident of resolving all differences with Harish Rawat.
Fourteen party MLAs, said to be loyal to Harish Rawat who revolted against the appointment of Bahuguna as CM, are yet to take oath.
Scores of Congress workers last evening took out a candle march here to show solidarity with Rawat.
The ministry expansion has been delayed due to internal feud in the ruling party.
Bahuguna took oath on Tuesday leaving Harish Rawat and his supporters fretting and fuming.
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