The Congress high command temporarily defused the Uttaranchal crisis today, making Chief Minister N.D. Tiwari order an inquiry into the unwed mother case while asking dissident MLAs not to disrupt the Budget session. However, Tiwari has been asked to meet Sonia Gandhi after the Assembly session to find a lasting solution to the factionalism. Sources said the truce was worked out by senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel and AICC treasurer Motilal Vora after consultations with state leaders, including Tiwari, state Congress president Harish Rawat and former minister Harak Singh Rawat. Harak Singh had resigned from the Cabinet two years ago when Jenny, an Assamese woman, alleged that he had fathered her child. Later, he was exonerated by the CBI and Jenny herself. The Assembly had to be adjourned last week after the dissidents, led by the state PCC chief, paralysed proceedings, pressing for a fresh inquiry to ‘‘unravel the conspiracy’’ behind the Jenny case. Vora, who is in charge of Uttaranchal, told reporters: ‘‘The first task at hand is the passage of the Budget. Once the session is over, Tiwariji may come here and meet the party president.’’ Sources said the high command is in no mood to displease Tiwari. Given his stature, Sonia would leave it to Tiwari to decide whether he wants to stay on or not in the wake of his own reported statements in the past that he wants to give up the chief ministership. As it is, Sonia has not removed any of her chief ministers in the middle of their terms. She retained both Digvijay Singh (Madhya Pradesh) and Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan) despite strong pressure from rebels in both states. Tiwari is being strongly backed by Vora. Asked about allegations of Tiwari’s involvement in the Jenny case, Vora responded with a counter-question: ‘‘How can anyone say such a thing about such a big man (like Tiwari)? I don’t believe any of these allegations.’’ Meanwhile, hope floats for Harish Rawat, aspirant for the CM’s post. Help has come to him in the shape of Harak Singh, who is gunning for Tiwari to settle scores with him for his ouster from the ministry. And, the scene is likely to shift to Delhi by the weekend as the Assembly session ends. Tiwari wins trust vote DEHRA DUN: The Uttaranchal government on Monday trumped a no-confidence motion brought by the Opposition in the Assembly. However, the BSP which was one of the opposition parties later decided to back the government. The main Opposition BJP, along with BSP and Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD), moved the no-confidence motion following disruption of the House by dissident MLAs of the ruling party since March 21. Around three hours after the motion was moved, the N.D. Tiwari government defeated the motion by a trust vote. —ENS
