Harish Rawat will be the new Chief Minster of Uttrarakhan. He has been elected leader of the state Congress Legislative Party at its meeting in Dehradun today. This was announced by party observer Janardan Dwivedi after the meeting. He said Rawat along with some Cabinet ministers will be sworn in later today. The election was done in the presence of central party observers Ambika Soni, Janardan Dwivedi and Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Ever since Vijay Bahuguna quit as Chief Minister, Rawat's appointment as his successor was considered a near-certainty in political circles.