N D Tewari meets Sonia

New Delhi, June 21 (UNI) Uttaranchal Chief Minister and octogenarian Congress leader Narain Dutt Tewari, who had recently offered to step down, today called on UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi at her residence here.

Mr Tewari discussed with Ms Gandhi his coming two-week visit to China to study the progress made by it in the small and cottage industry sector.

The political situation in the state also figured during the meeting, sources said.

In March, the Uttaranchal Chief Minister had expressed his desire to quit from his post citing health reasons. His offer to step down had come amidst reports about his differences with the Central leadership of his party.

He was also absent from the plenary session of the Congress in Hyderabad, in January this year.

Mr Tiwari, who was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh four times and Union Minister twice, had assumed Chief Ministership of Uttaranchal on March 2, 2002.

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