Cong now hints at secular coalition

However, while giving a message to other smaller parties in the state, the Congress Chief claimed that the party would win a clear majority in the assembly polls.

Asked to identify such secular parties, Rawat said that Bahujan Samaj Party BSP and Uttarakhand Kranti Dal UKD are the two 8216;secular8217; parties in the state. In the outgoing assembly, Bahujan Samaj Party BSP had seven members while UKD had four legislators. Both the parties are expected to repeat their performances.

There was a strong feeling in Uttarakhand Congress that both Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party BJP would be falling short of attaining majority in the 70 member House. In case of a hung assembly, smaller parties like Bahujan Samaj Party BSP and Uttarakhand Kranti Dal UKD would be playing a major role in forming a coalition government in the state.

The Congress and particularly Rawat by inviting smaller parties wanted to wrest the initiative from Bharatiya Janata Party BJP in case of a hung assembly. Rawat had missed the bus after the last polls in 2002, when the party high command decided to make veteran N D Tiwari as the Chief Minister. However, Tiwari opted not to fight the polls this time citing age and health reasons.