Future pregnant with several options for N D Tiwari

Hardwar, Dec 28 (UNI) Though Uttaranchal Chief Minister N D Tiwari is still keeping his cards close to his chest and remaining non-commital about his future stand in state politics, the rumour mills are agog with speculation that he may contest the state assembly elections from the Hardwar City seat.

In the last assembly elections, the Congress was defeated in all the nine constituencies of Hardwar district.

The speculation of Mr Tiwari's contesting from Hardwar has boosted the morale of the Congress workers, who believe that it will have a salutary impact on the prospects of the party in all the assembly segments of the district.

Sanskrit University Vice-Chancellor Brahm Swaroop Brahmchari told UNI that since of all the districts in Uttaranchal, Hardwar had benefited most by the development work done by the state government during the last five years, if Mr Tiwari contested from the seat, he would win hands down.

Ms Vimla Pandey, a resident of the BHEL Hardwar and secretary of the state Mahila Congress who was the first to suggest that Tiwari should contest from Hardwar district, said the development taking place in the district, especially due to the setting up of the vast industrial estates, has changed the entire face of it.

''As an expression of gratitude, the people of the district will ensure that Mr Tiwari wins with the highest margin in the state,'' she added.

However, the speculation has caused a flutter in the opposition parties. The sitting BJP MLA from Hardwar city, Mr Madan Kaushik, said, ''We are not afraid of Mr Tiwari. If he contests from here, he will be humbled at the hustings.'' Former MLA from Hardwar and state unit chief of the Samajwadi Party Ambrish Kumar, who is likely to contest from the seat, said, ''We have always stood for the restoration of Hardwar district to Uttar Pradesh. The outcome of the election will decide whether the people favour the inclusion of the district in Uttaranchal or not.'' Though Mr Tiwari is yet to give any reaction to the demand of Congressmen from Hardwar, political observers say in case the party high command agrees to their demand and persuades him to contest from the district, it is likely to upset the entire applecart of all the political parties in the district.

UNI XC RL HT1405