I will not be a cause of crisis: Harish Rawat

New Delhi: The political crisis for Congress in Uttarakhand appears to have blown over on Wednesday with Union minister and rebel leader Harish Rawat falling in line amid speculation that a compromise deal has been worked out by

the party leadership.

After raising the banner of revolt soon after Vijay Bahuguna was named the new Chief Minister of the state, Rawat claiming the support of 17 of 32 Congress MLAs in the 70-member Assembly, toned down saying he will "not be a cause

of crisis".

While there was no official word from the party, sources close to the Rawat camp said that a compromise formula has been worked out under which he could be elevated as a Cabinet Minister and his close confidante Harak Singh Rawat may be

made Deputy Chief Minister.

Some key portfolios can also be given to MLAs supporting Rawat, the sources said.

After hectic confabulations between the rebel faction and senior Congress leaders, Rawat appeared conciliatory.

"I will not become the cause for any crisis either in Dehradun or in Delhi. My supporters wanted me to be the Chief Minister but it is not necessary that all wishes are always fulfilled," Rawat told reporters outside his residence this

evening.

The Union Minister's statement comes as a major reprieve for Bahuguna (65), who found only a handful of MLAs attending his swearing in on Tuesday.

17 legislators had gathered at Rawat's residence on Monday night protesting Bahuguna as Chief Minister immediately after his name was announced outside Congress President Sonia Gandhi's residence at 10 Janpath by senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad.