Saturday, April 1 2006 11:25 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dehra Dun: Amidst political uncertainty in Uttaranchal, Chief Minister N D Tiwari, who had created a flutter by publicly announcing his wish to quit office last month, is waiting for a call from Congress chief Sonia Gandhi for a meeting to decide his political fate.

For the time being, there is little choice before octogenerian Tiwari but to continue as Chief Minister.

A meeting is expected between Sonia Gandhi and Tiwari soon, a source close to the Chief Minister said.

Tiwari had on Tuesday fired another salvo by announcing that he would not contest elections. "I will continue to serve the country as well as this state but I will not contest elections", he said at a function organised to felicitate Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi for his election to Rajya Sabha from Uttaranchal.

But Tiwari made it clear that he would continue to take part in election campaigns.

His remarks came in less than one month after he had publicly announced his decision to retire, at that time citing the age factor as the main reason for his retirement. But Congress sources said there had been some lobbying for Tiwari to get him a berth in the Rajya Sabha, a decision notacceptable to the high command.

"Meanwhile, Congress sources said senior party leader Moti Lal Vora, who was also present at the function, had detailed talks with Tiwari on the political situation in the state. Vora would convey the sentiments of Tiwari to Gandhi," the sources said.

The sources pointed out that since the budget presentation process is now over, the party high command would soon hold talks with Tiwari and other top Congress leaders to break the situation in Uttaranchal arising out of Tiwari's announcement of retirement.

Surprisingly, the opposition parties have failed to capitalise on the issue relating to Tiwari's sudden announcement of retirement even as political uncertainty about his political fate continued. Barring a few murmurs over the issue, opposition parties, including BJP, have chosen to remain silent on the issue.

However, Kishor Upadhyay, an MLA from Tehri, said the Congress high command must respect the sentiments of Tiwari.

Though PCC chief Harish Rawat is a strong contender for the top post, names of Information Minister Indira Hridayesh and Tourism Minister T P S Rawat are also doing the round in case Tiwari is being shifted from Uttaranchal.