BJP’s Asha Nautiyal, Congress’ Manoj Rawat file nomination papers for Kedarnath bypoll
Tuesday, 29 OCTOBER 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The stage is set for the KKedarnath Assembly bypoll with the filing of nomination papers by the candidates of Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress on Monday. The BJP candidate Asha Nautiyal filed her nomination papers in the presence of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, former CM Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Garhwal MP Anil Baluni and other leaders in Ukhimath.
The Congress candidate Manoj Rawat filed his nomination papers on the day with the top leaders of the Uttarakhand Congress. Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Karan Mahara, State co-in charge Surendra Sharma, leader of opposition (LoP) in the Assembly, Yashpal Arya, former PCC president Ganesh Godiyal, district Congress president Kunwar Sajwan and others accompanied Rawat.
After filing nomination papers, the BJP leaders addressed a public meeting in Ukhimath. Speaking on the occasion, the CM said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP has always given preference to development in Kedarnath. He appealed to the people to give their vote to the BJP candidate Nautiyal to continue the development journey in Kedarnath. Paying homage to the late MLA Shaila Rani Rawat, the CM said that he had promised the people of Kedarnath that he will act as an MLA of Kedarnath till a new legislator is elected from the constituency. “I have fulfilled the promise made to you and in a short span of time government orders for many schemes worth crores of rupees have been issued,’’ he said.
Accusing the Congress party of spreading lies, the CM said that the government has issued clear orders so that no one can construct temples in the names of Char Dham of Uttarakhand. He also accused the Congress party for engaging in appeasement politics. The CM said that the State government is committed to prevent demographic change in Uttarakhand.
The BJP leaders were relieved by the presence of Kuldeep Rawat, one of the key contenders for the party ticket in the nomination process and public meeting. However Aishwarya Rawat, the daughter of the late Shaila Rani Rawat was conspicuous by her absence, fuelling speculation that she could revolt.
The Congress party on the other hand organised a Padyatra and public meeting in Agastyamuni town after filing of nomination papers by its candidate.
Addressing the meeting, the PCC president Karan Mahara said that after registering victories in Manglaur and Badrinath Assembly by-elections, the Congress will register a thumping victory in Kedarnath. Former CM Harish Rawat said that corruption rules the roost in the BJP government and the women are not safe in the BJP rule. He said that the people are reeling under escalating prices and unemployment. Rawat highlighted the steps taken by the Congress government in Kedarnath after the disaster of 2013 and appealed to the people to teach the BJP a lesson.
