The Hindu : Front Page : I am too old to continue, says N.D. Tiwari

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Sunday, Mar 05, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

I am too old to continue, says N.D. Tiwari

C. K. Chandramohan

Says he had urged the party high command to relieve him

DEHRADUN: Uttaranchal Chief Minister Narayan Dutt Tiwari sprang a surprise at a public function on Saturday when he announced that he had urged the Congress high command to relieve him of the responsibility within a month.

"I am too old and have no desire to continue as Chief Minister or hold any other assignment and would like to be relieved after a rather illustrious innings in Indian politics," Mr. Tiwari said.

Coming two days after he completed four years as Chief Minister, the announcement puts the onus on the high command for allowing him to bow out gracefully.

Surprise decision

Mr. Tiwari's decision has come as a surprise to the party leader in charge of Uttaranchal affairs, Motilal Vora, who is touring the State.

Although his detractors, mainly MLAs loyal to State Congress president Harish Rawat, have been seeking Mr. Tiwari's ouster, the decision seems to have its roots in the anger expressed by several Ministers at Friday's Cabinet meeting over bureaucrats not obeying their orders or even consulting them on important matters.

"We want to know whether the Ministers or bureaucrats govern this State," they asked Mr. Tiwari, sources said.

"Whatever Sonia Gandhi decides should be done immediately as any delay in this matter will have a serious impact on the party's prospects in the next elections," said a number of senior party leaders preferring to remain anonymous.

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