The Uttarakhand BJP legislative party has chosen state Health Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank as state’s next Chief Minister. Considered to be close to BC Khanduri, Nishank is a strong leader from Garhwal and is known to be close to the RSS.
The decision was taken at a crucial meeting of Uttarakhand BJP MLAs in the national capital on Wednesday. Senior party leaders M Venkaiah Naidu and Thawar Chand Gehlot also attended the meeting as central observers besides dissident leader B S Koshiyari and state unit president Bachchi Singh Rawat.
Backing of Chief Minister BC Khanduri and his seniority as a politician were the key factors that were instrumental in getting the Uttarakhand Chief Minister’s post for Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank. He was elected in a meeting of the BJP legislative party held in Delhi on Wednesday. Pokhriyal’s name was proposed by outgoing Chief Minister Khanduri and seconded by state Tourism Minister and of the contenders for the top post Prakash Pant, Rawat and Chandan Ramdas. Nishank is the sitting legislator from Thalisen constituency.
51-year-old journalist-turned-politician Pokhriyal was elected unanimously leader of the BJP legislature party at the meeting of MLAs here, state Agriculture Minister Trivendra Rawat said.
Khanduri will submit his resignation to Governor B L Joshi tomorrow after which Pokhriyal and his new team will be sworn in.
News Source: TimesOfIndia | IndianExpress
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We are very happy to see Mr. Nishank as new Chief Minister for Uttarakhand. We need corruption free State. Mr. Nishank placed some erring officials under suspension, which is very much needed to streamline the administration. Corruption in the State is increasing day by day. General public is still ignorant of their rights. They are supposed to be taught about their rights, and duties too. They do not know that the Govt. is for them. They must have direct accessibility of their elected representatives like Himachal Pradesh. The people of Himachal Pradesh are very progressive. They are well organised and Govt. Officials do not dare to exploit them because of their political awareness. It is bad luck of Uttarakhand that most of the intellectuals have settled outside Uttarakhand for the reason that U.P. was a big State and hilly people were totally ignored by the politicians of plain area. No doubt, people of Hill area are hard working and honest, but innocent also. For their livelihood, garhwalies went out to other States and Cities and due to poor infrastructure and facilities in the Hill Area they settled in the State or Cities they were working/ residing for their livelihood. State Govt. should try to bring back those Scientists, Educationists, Administrators, Engineers,Economists, Writers, Thinkers and Philosophers who have migrated to far away places in search of livelihood. They can contribute in a better way for the welfare of the State due to their exposure and experience in other States and Cities. We hope that Mr. Nishank will make Uttarakhand a prosperous State as Mr. Narender Modi has made the Gujrat. Our well wishes are always with him for the welfare of the people of Hill State of Uttarakhand.
Congratulations once again for being elected as Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. May God bless you to succeed in your good mission.