Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has tendered his resignation to Governor Baby Rani Maurya on Tuesday, which follows widespread speculations among political observers and media that there would be a change in guard in the state.
“The party gave me a golden opportunity to serve this state for four years. I had never thought that I would get such an opportunity. The party has now decided that someone else should get the opportunity to serve as Chief Minister,” Trivendra said after submitting his resignation to the Governor, who is yet to accept it.
Trivendra would have completed four years in office next week. He joins former Uttarakhand Chief Ministers who couldn’t complete their five-year term either. Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister late ND Tiwari was the only Uttarakhand head of state who managed to complete his term.
According to reports, several Uttarakhand BJP leaders and MLAs have expressed unhappiness over Trivendra’s style of governance. Reportedly, many party leaders are unsure whether he would get re-elected in the next election.
The BJP central leadership called Trivendra to New Delhi a few days ago. The meeting led to speculations that Uttarakhand would see a change in guard. Home Minister Amit Shah held meetings with several BJP leaders and the party chief. Trivendra met BJP president JP Nadda as well.
After submitting his resignation, Trivendra said that the BJP legislature party meeting is scheduled for 10 am tomorrow at the party office. Reportedly, Dhan Singh Rawat, Ajay Bhatt, and Anil Baluni are frontrunners to become the next Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, but, according to reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be making that decision.
Meanwhile, former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and Congress leader Harish Rawat said that BJP would not return to power in the next election. “I can see a change in power happening. Even the BJP’s central leadership has admitted that the present Uttarakhand government cannot do much. No matter who they bring now, they will not come back to power in 2022,” Harish told reporters.
