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Dhami BJP’s surprise CM pick for U’khand

Sunday, 04 July 2021 | PNS | Dehradun

Will build on foundation laid by seniors, says Pushkar Dhami

Forty-five-year-old Pushkar Singh Dhami, two-time MLA from Khatima constituency in the Kumaon region, is the new Chief Minister of Uttarakhand after the BJP legislature party on Saturday elected him to the office.

He is the 11th Chief Minister of the State and is expected to take the oath of the office and secrecy on Sunday.

The change of guard came a day after Tirath Singh Rawat resigned from the post amid infighting and fading chances of his getting elected to the State Legislative Assembly by September 10.

Dhami’s name was proposed by the outgoing Chief Minister and BJP State president Madan Kaushik. It was supported unanimously by the BJP legislature party. Dhami was considered to be one of the three main contenders for the post of the CM from Kumaon region with MP Ajay Bhatt and Cabinet Minister Bishan Singh Chufal being the other two.

Still his election came as a surprise to many who were expecting Cabinet Minister Satpal Maharaj or some other veteran politician to be given the challenging task of leading the party into the Assembly elections early next year.

The election of Dhami as the leader of the legislature party was not followed by the customary beating of drums and bursting of fireworks at the BJP State office, as according to sources, the central leadership of the party had proscribed such celebrations on the occasion.

Talking to the media on the occasion, Dhami thanked the party’s central leadership and State leaders for giving him the responsibility of the State’s “Mukhya Sevak” after nurturing him as a child.

He said the BJP did not have a culture of carrying forward family politics but nurtures its workers instead. He assured that the services of the Government will reach the last intended beneficiary in the State. “We will jointly fight the challenges facing us. We will carry forward the development for which my seniors who have laid the foundation,” he said.

Dhami met Governor Baby Rani Maurya at Raj Bhawan after his election as the leader of the BJP legistlature  Union Minister and BJP leader Narendra Singh Tomar said.

“We went to the Governor to discuss the party’s decision. The oath-taking ceremony will be held tomorrow,” Tomar was quoted as saying by ANI.

 On being asked about when he will be sworn in, Dhami said he had made his submission to the Governor and that necessary action will be taken as per the directions from Raj Bhawan. When asked about how he will tackle the challenge of performing to the satisfaction of the public in the short duration,  Dhami said he will  turn this challenge into an opportunity.

Recalling his experience as a youth leader, he said that one of his major priorities will be to address the condition of the multitudes who have lost their jobs or are facing livelihood issues due to the situation caused by the Covid pandemic.

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