Bahuguna takes potshots at former BJP Govt. in Uttarakhand

Dehradun, Mar 15 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on Thursday lashed out at the former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government in the state over its failure to work for the welfare of the people

Praising the people of Uttarakhand for giving the Congress Party an opportunity to govern the state for the next five years, Bahuguna said: "We are glad that people of Uttarakhand have shown faith in Congress party. We will try to live upto the expectations of the people of Uttarakhand. We will undertake development work in the state which was halted in the last five years."

Newly elected members of the Uttarakhand legislative assembly took oath of office at a ceremony here today.

Bahuguna asserted that the legislators from all the parties should work towards growth and development of the state.

"Our legislators who have won will take oath and I congratulate each and everyone. Being the Chief Minister, I assure every legislator whether he is from the ruling party or opposition, that I would not let politicisation of developmental projects in the state. We will serve the state along with the opposition," he told the media on the sidelines of the swearing-in-ceremony.

Other newly elected legislators echoed similar views and said that they would like to initiate steps, which would prevent the migration of youth.

"We are glad that people of Uttarakhand have shown faith in Congress party. We will try to live upto the expectations of the people of Uttarakhand. We will undertake development work in the state which was halted in the last 5 years," said Amrita Rawat, an MLA.

"My priority is to ensure the overall development takes place in my area. There is need to formulate concrete policy to stop the migration of our youth from our constituency and from the mountain areas and would also like the formulation of policies related to tourism, youth and agriculture," added another MLA.

The stalemate in Uttarakhand Congress, however, continues even days after the party high command's decision to chose Vijay Bahuguna as the chief minister ahead of senior leader Harish Rawat.

Bahuguna, 65, was sworn in as the chief minister of Uttarakhand at a brief ceremony at the Parade Ground in Dehradun on Tuesday.

Harish Rawat, who was seen as a frontrunner for the Uttarakhand chief minister's post, had earlier offered to resign from the cabinet following Bahuguna's selection for the top post.

According to reports, Rawat sent his resignation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He had also written to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, saying that he would prefer to work as a party worker.

In the 70-member Assembly, Congress had emerged as the largest party with 32 MLAs and has the support of three independent MLAs and one from UKD. The Bahujan Samaj Party, having strength of three members, has pledged its unconditional support to Congress, raising its tally to 39. (ANI)