Uttarakhand Bypoll: Congress, BJP Announce Candidates For Kedarnath Seat

The BJP and Congress have revealed their candidates for the Kedarnath assembly bypoll in Uttarakhand, scheduled for November 20. The Congress has chosen former MLA Manoj Rawat, while the BJP has selected Asha Nautiyal, the Pradesh Mahila Morcha president. This election is significant for both parties as they vie for control of this crucial seat.

The Kedarnath seat became vacant following the death of BJP MLA Shaila Rani Rawat. Manoj Rawat, a former journalist, previously won from Kedarnath in 2017 but was defeated by Shaila Rani Rawat in 2022. Asha Nautiyal has a history with this seat, having been elected in 2002 and 2007 on a BJP ticket.

Key Dates and Voter Information

Candidates must submit their nomination papers by October 29. These will be reviewed on October 30, with November 4 as the deadline for withdrawing nominations. The constituency has 90,540 eligible voters, including 45,775 women. To accommodate them, officials will establish 173 polling stations across the area.

In recent elections, the BJP experienced mixed results in Uttarakhand. Despite winning all five Lok Sabha seats, they lost Badrinath and Manglaur assembly bypolls to Congress. This adds pressure on both parties to secure victory in Kedarnath.

As political dynamics shift in Uttarakhand, both parties are keenly aware of the importance of this bypoll. With strategic candidates like Manoj Rawat and Asha Nautiyal, each party hopes to sway voters and gain an advantage in the region.

The outcome of this election could influence future political strategies for both parties in Uttarakhand. As such, they are likely to campaign vigorously to win over the electorate before polling day arrives.