Friday, 04 February 2022 | PNS | Pauri
Campaigning for the ensuing Assembly elections has intensified in the six constituencies of Pauri district. Following withdrawal of nominations, there are eight candidates in Pauri constituency, seven each in Srinagar and Lansdowne, five in Yamkeshwar, 11 in Kotdwar and nine in Chaubattakhal. Though the main focus is being elicited by candidates of the BP and Congress, the candidates of other parties and independent candidates are also doing their bit to garner the support of the voters.
The BJP which won from all the six constituencies in the 2017 Assembly election is making all efforts to retain the seats and its prestige. Its candidates and sitting MLAs Satpal Maharaj from Chaubattakhal, Dhan Singh Rawat from Srinagar and Dileep Rawat from Lansdowne are busy interacting with the voters even as Raj Kumar Pori in Pauri, Renu Bist in Yamkeshwar and Ritu Bhushan Khanduri in Kotdwar are doing their bit to consolidate their support. Congress candidate Surendra Singh Negi is a strong contender in Kotdwar, where the BJP candidate is also facing rebel Dhirendra Singh Chauhan who is contesting as an independent and was expelled from the BJP on Thursday. Chauhan is being supported by a section of BJP workers. The Congress candidates are doing their best to overcome the BJP challenge. Congress candidates including PCC chief Ganesh Godiyal is campaigning in his Srinagar constituency while the same is being done by Naval Kishore in Pauri, Kesar Singh Negi in Chaubattakhal, Shailendra Rawat in Yamkeshwar and Anukriti Gusain Rawat in Lansdowne constituency.
Observers state that though the main electoral contest appears to be between the BJP and Congress candidates, the candidates of other parties and independent candidates may also make their presence felt, to the discomfort of the candidates from the two national parties.
