Dehradun: The election campaign for the Kedarnath assembly by-poll will come to an end at 5 pm today. The administration has made elaborate arrangements for peaceful polling and counting of votes. The polling would be held on November 20 while the date for counting of votes is set as November 23.
The bye-election is necessitated by the death of BJP MLA from this seat Shaila Rani Rawat. Shaila Rawat died on July 9 this year. On October 15, the Election Commission of India (ECI) issued notification for holding by-polls to Kedarnath seat. The nomination process was completed between October 22 and 29.
Total six candidates are in the fray
While the BJP has selected its prominent women face Asha Nautiyal to contest the Kedarnath by-polls, former MLA Manoj Rawat is Congress party’s nominee. A regional party Uttarakhand Kranti Dal has fielded Ashutosh Rana. Three independent candidates- Tribhuvan Chauhan, R P Singh and Pradeep Singh Rudhiya- are also trying their luck in the by-election.
90875 voters will exercise their franchise in the by-poll
Kedarnath assembly seat has a total 90875 voters who will exercise their franchise in the by-polls. The total number of polling booths in this constituency is 173. Polling parties will be sent to remote polling centres located at Gaudar, Rashi, and Chilaur on November 18.
Ruling BJP and the opposition Congress are in race with each other to perform well in the by-poll
After the setback BJP received in the recent Badrinath and Manglaur by-elections, the party has given its special focus to put up a good show in Kedarnath and ensure its victory. The Congress is also not leaving no stone unturned to perform well in the Kedarnath by-polls.
BJP deployed several ministers to ensure party’s good show in the by-poll
Several ministers of the BJP government have been deployed in different parts of the Kedarnath seat to woo voters. The BJP has also targeted such voters who have migrated to other states. BJP hopes to bag votes in this area in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is credited for reconstruction works in Kedarpuri.
