Congress high command to decide on cabinet reshuffle: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat

DEHRADUN: Amid rising demands for a cabinet reshuffle by a section of Congress leaders, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat today said decision on the same would be taken by the party high command.

"The decision on cabinet reshuffle is taken by the party high command and their orders would be followed," Rawat said here, upon returning after a visit to the national capital.

He, however, said that a berth is vacant in the cabinet about which he apprised Congress Uttarakhand In-charge Ambika Soni during his Delhi visit.

Notably, the Congress, which touched the majority mark of 36 in the state Assembly after its victory in Bhagwanpur bypoll, has been rife with demands of a subsequent cabinet reshuffle, particularly by former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna camp.

Bahuguna, along with his supporters have been demanding that the seat share of Progressive Democratic Front (PDF) in the state government should be reduced, so that some of its own MLAs are anointed as ministers.

The former Chief Minister had even pressed for this demand in his meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi last week.

When questioned, Rawat said, "The decision to form a government with PDF support was taken by the party's central leadership and they will take a call on the issue again."

Congress, which had bagged just one seat more than the opposition BJP in the 2012 Assembly elections, had formed the government with the support of PDF comprising BSP, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal and Independent MLAs.

There are currently six PDF MLAs backing the government with four PDF ministers in the 11-member state cabinet.

The death of former minister Surendra Rakesh in February has led to a vacancy in the cabinet, which is being eyed by several party leaders, including Mamta, his widow whose victory from Bhagwanpur had secured the Congress a majority in the state.