Sidelined Tiwari shares dais with BJP leaders

DEHRADUN: In a surprise move, Congress veteran Narayan Dutt Tiwari today shared dais with chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and other senior BJP leaders at a function marking the formation day of Uttarakhand here.

85-year-old Tiwari, who has virtually been sidelined by his party after he was forced to quit as Governor of Andhra Pradesh in December last year following a sex scandal, walked to the dais with the support of his close aides and sat till the completion of the function, where he was the only Congress leader present.

The gesture surprised the guests as though it was a government function but Congress leaders usually avoid any such event by the BJP government in the state.

"I am glad that Tiwariji is among us. Tiwariji has played a long public innings. He has a vision for development. Our earnest endeavour will be to take benefit of his vast administrative experience," said Nishank in his speech.

"Mein unko pranam karta hun (I salute him)," said Nishank with folded hands.

Tiwari is a former chief minister of Uttarkhand and Uttar Pradesh (UP)

Uttarakhand was carved out of UP on Nov 9, 2000.