Nearly 15 months after its formation,the stability of Vijay Bahugunas government in Uttarakhand remains under cloud. The latest threat comes from allegations levelled by six Congress MLAs of the government ignoring development work in their constituencies. The refusal of the six MLAs Harish Dhami (Dharhchula),Manoj Tiwari (Almora),Mayukh Mahar (Pithoragarh),Narayan Ram (Gangauli Hat),Hemesh Khrakwal (Champawat) and Lalit Farshwan (Kapkot) to meet the CM has added fuel to the fire. Interestingly,they represent constituencies located in Kumaun region considered stronghold of Union Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat who was sidelined by the party high command in its choice of Chief Minister. The timing of the virtual revolt is important, a source said adding,Bahuguna is under tremendous pressure to improve his governments performance. He has already lost Tehri Lok Sabha seat bypoll. The local body poll results also dented the image of the his government. On Monday evening,the MLAs boycotted Bahugunas invitation to meet him at the state secretariat. Instead they chose to appear at state Planning Minister Dinesh Agarwals residence in Dehradun. We have communicated our priority of development works to Agrawal. We hope he will place our grievances before the Chief Minister, Harish Dhami told The Indian Express,claiming Bahuguna had defaulted on his promise to install cell-phone tower in his constituency. Other MLAs voiced similar sentiments with Almora MLA Manoj Tewari claiming the CM had promised an inter-state bus terminus in his constituency and Kapkot MLA Lalit Farshwan claiming problems of road connectivity and drinking water. The helpless state Congress has not initiated any action against the MLAs. We have sought time to meet AICC president Sonia Gandhi. Only party high command will decide action,if any,against them, Narendra Bhandari,state Congress discipline committee head,said.
