Bahuguna's alleged delayed response with rescue operations being launched about four to five days after the calamity struck on June 16-17 came in for bitter criticism, prompting the party high command to look for a substitute for him.
Bahuguna parried a question on the circumstances that led to his exit, saying he has “no comments” to offer.
“This is my good fortune that I got a chance to serve the nation and I will always do whatever is possible by me for the development of the state,” he said.
Congress sources said that after Bahuguna's exit, Rawat is the front-runner for the post. The name of Pritam Singh, who is the Food and Civil Supplies Minister, is also doing the rounds.
Pritam Singh belongs to the Rawat camp and the talk is that he could emerge as a compromise candidate if the anti-Rawat faction refuse to accept him. Pritam Singh is an MLA from Chakrata.
