A day after he was sworn in as the new Uttarakhand Chief Minister,Vijay Bahuguna said today that it was the support of the seven non-Congress MLAs that gave him the edge in the race within his party for the top post. What was important was the view of the seven non-Congress MLAs. Now,a government cannot be formed based on the view of only the Congress MLAs. Sonia Gandhi must have taken the views of these seven MLAs as well as the 32 party MLAs, said Bahuguna,who was accompanied by four of the seven non-Congress MLAs during his visit to his office at the Secretariat earlier in the day. It is not the strength within the party because we dont have absolute majority. The supporting parties also played a role in influencing her decision, he added. While the Congress managed to win 32 seats in the 70-member Assembly,three Independents,three BSP MLAs,and the lone UKD MLA helped it secure a majority. Bahuguna claimed that contrary to media reports of six contenders from within the Congress for the CMs post,the race was only between him and Harish Rawat. In the selection of the CM,the relevant criteria is not whether he is an MP or MLA. The relevant criteria is that he should enjoy the confidence of the party, he said. Bahuguna said Sonia must have taken into account his vast knowledge about the state while picking him. I was here in the Planning Commission for five years. Secondly,with my family background,and my own knowledge and understanding of things,she thought I may be able to deliver better, he said,adding that the fact that he distances himself from associating with intra-party groups may have also helped his cause. I am accepted as a soft man. I dont indulge in groupism. So,the qualities which I think weighed in her mind is that I can carry everybody together, he said. CM looking for safe seat Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna,set to go in for a bypoll to be elected to the Assembly,is on the lookout for a safe seat. While he represents the Tehri Garhwal Lok Sabha constituency,he said he would start preparing for the bypoll after the Budget Session is over.There are a number of colleagues who want to abdicate their seat for me. But I am yet to decide, he said. Earlier,there was talk that Bahuguna would consider contesting from the Tehri Assembly seat which falls in his Lok Sabha constituency. But Independent MLA Dinesh Dhanai,who was elected from Tehri,said today: Why should I give up my seat. Why should Sonia Gandhi ask me to give it up? I am an Independent. ENS
