Khanduri elected new Uttarakhand CM
	Dehradun: The drama over who gets to be the next Chief Minister of Uttarakhand ended after a marathon six-hour BJP legislature party meeting in Dehradun. And the choice of the BJP's central leadership prevailed over the will of the majority of newly elected public representatives. State BJP chief Bhagat Singh Koshiari lost the battle for the post of Chief Minister to BJP MP from Paudi, Major General BC Khanduri. "We had an all party meeting and Khanduri was elected the CM unanimously," said Gopinath Munde, senior BJP leader. Strong contention Observers, who had been dispatched from Delhi, spent several hours pacifying Koshiari and his supporters but it seems they had dug in their heels. The appointment with the Governor had to be postponed twice as efforts continued to bring everyone under the same umbrella. But after it was all over, the two contenders patched up, at least on the face of it. "MLAs have selected Khanduri as the CM so I think you should ask him rest of the question," said Bhagat Singh Koshiari, Uttarakhand BJP Chief. On his part, Khanduri expressed pleasure at being elected as the CM. "I feel privileged that with help of state chief and party members, I have been elected to head the state," said B C Khanduri, BJP leader. "I will perform with the help of my supporters including the State Chief," he added. Challenge ahead The BJP with 34 MLAs needs a majority of 36 in the 70-member assembly. It claims to have the support of two independent MLAs. It has staked its claim to form the government and is now waiting for the Governor's invitation. But forming the government is certainly the least of worries that Khanduri has. The real challenge lies ahead. Koshiari may have cleared the way for Major General Khanduri but if Thursday's meeting is anything to go by, governing this state and more importantly keeping the MLAs in check, will not be an easy task for the general.