Decision on Uttarakhand CM soon: Ghulam Nabi Azad

NEW DELHI: Amid the race for Chief Ministership in Uttarakhand, Congress today indicated that the party has not closed any options and even an MP can be considered for the top job in the state.

The indication comes a day after marathon meetings senior leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and AICC General Secretary Chaudhary Birender Singh had with Union Minister Harish Rawat and MP Vijay Bahugana, both contenders for Chief Ministership in the hill state.

The party had earlier signalled it would prefer an MLA for the post.

Talking to reporters outside Parliament, Azad said the decision in this regard would be announced either today or tomorrow.

Asked if there was any criterion that only MLAs would become Chief Minister, Azad said, "No, there is no such criterion. Whosoever is writing this in newspapers is writing on his own. No such decision has been taken at the national level whether it would be an MLA or an MP."

Asserting that there was "no problem" in Government formation in the state, Azad said the BSP has also extended their support to the government there.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Harish Rawat-- a front-runner for the CM post, said he was "hopeful that Uttarkahand can have a chief minister today itself".

Asked if he would be disappointed if he does not become the Chief minister, Rawat said, "I am a soldier... soldier should have the habit of smiling on all occasions."

Meanwhile, Congress leaders Birender Singh, Azad and Ahmed Patel held a meeting with party Chief Sonia Gandhi at her residence, amid indications that the meeting remained inconclusive on the issue of selecting the State CM.

Along with Rawat, former Leader of Opposition in Uttarkhand Harak Singh Rawat, Indira Hridayesh, Congress PCC Chief Yashpal Arya and MP Vijay Bahuguna are the front-runners for the top post.