Uttarakhand HC quashes President’s rule: Laddoos in Cong, wilted garlands in BJP

Also Read: Uttarakhand HC strikes down President’s rule in the state, floor test on April 29

Minutes before, the reinstated CM had addressed the media, hailing the judgment of the Uttarakhand High Court as landmark and “a victory of the people of Uttarakhand”.

Watch: CM Harish Rawat On SC’s Stay On Uttarakhand HC’s Order On President’s Rule

“We had no power to fight these mahabalis (strongmen)… people with broad chests. The people of Uttarakhand fought our battle. Uttarakhand has received many wounds in the past, too, and we have tried to forget them. This wound, too, was inflicted on us and the court’s judgment was a salve. We will try to forget this bitter chapter and I will request the Central government, too, to help in the state’s development,” said Rawat.

At the BJP office in the other end of the town, the mood couldn’t be more different. Wilted garlands from some happier occasion graced the walls and the office wore a forlorn air.

Also Read: President’s rule quashed: From a Congress rebellion to a High Court rap in Uttarakhand

There were not too many people around but BJP spokesperson Munna Singh Chauhan insisted that the verdict hadn’t dampened the morale of party workers. “It hasn’t affected us because we are confident that if the floor test takes place on April 29, the Harish Rawat government will be reduced to a minority,” he said.

Meanwhile, Subodh Uniyal, one of the nine rebel Congress MLAs who left for Delhi shortly after the judgment, called it “absolutely unexpected”. “I was very surprised that there was no mention of the Assembly Speaker’s role or of the sting operation that showed horse trading,” said Uniyal. “But I am saying this again, we are against Harish Rawat, not the Congress. We haven’t left the party,” said Uniyal.

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