BJP and Congress announced the names of their candidates on Sunday for the by-election of Kedarnath assembly seat. BJP declared Asha Nautiyal, who has been MLA from Kedarnath twice, as its candidate on the basis of experience and ground hold. Earlier on Sunday afternoon, based on the report of the observer team and consensus among senior leaders, Congress placed its bet on former MLA of Kedarnath Manoj Rawat. Both the candidates will file nomination on Monday. By-election is to be held on November 20 on Kedarnath assembly seat. This seat has fallen vacant due to the death of BJP MLA Shailarani. In such a situation, BJP announced the name of former MLA Asha Nautiyal late night as the candidate for this seat linked to the prestige of the party. Although, other contenders including Aishwarya Rawat, daughter of late MLA Shailarani Rawat, were also in the race, but the party approved the name of Asha Nautiyal. Congress has made former MLA Manoj Rawat its candidate. The report of the observers was discussed in a meeting of senior state leaders chaired by Congress state in-charge Kumari Selja in Delhi on October 24. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge approved the name of Manoj Rawat on the recommendation of the Central Election Committee.
Experience and ground hold made Asha’s path easy
After a long deliberation about the candidate for the by-election of the Kedarnath assembly seat linked to BJP’s prestige, the party finally cleared the picture late at night. The party has expressed confidence in Asha Nautiyal, who has been an MLA from Kedarnath twice. Along with long political experience and strong hold on the ground, the survey conducted by the party played an important role in making her path easy.
The Kedarnath assembly seat has fallen vacant due to the death of BJP MLA Shailarani Rawat. BJP did not get success in the recently concluded by-elections of Mangalore and Badrinath seats. Although, BJP did not have these seats earlier also, but this is not the case in Kedarnath. Not only this, voices of discontent had also emerged among the party cadre regarding the selection of the candidate for the Badrinath seat. In view of all this, the party seriously deliberated on all aspects for the Kedarnath by-election. On Sunday, the central leadership in Delhi, after discussing all the equations as well as talking to the provincial leadership, approved the candidature of former MLA Asha Nautiyal from the Kedarnath seat. Although, apart from Aishwarya Rawat, daughter of late MLA Shailrani Rawat, Kuldeep Singh Rawat, who contested as an independent in the year 2017 and 2022, was also in the race, but the party expressed confidence in former MLA Asha Nautiyal in view of her long political experience, strong hold in the area, and survey reports conducted four times.
Chief Minister and other leaders will be present in the nomination
BJP candidate Asha Nautiyal will file her nomination papers on Monday at 12 noon. According to BJP’s state general secretary Aditya Kothari, on the occasion of nomination, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Garhwal MP and BJP’s national media chief Anil Baluni, BJP’s state in-charge Dushyant Kumar Gautam and state president Mahendra Bhatt, former Chief Ministers Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Tirath Singh Rawat, Rudraprayag district in-charge minister Saurabh Bahuguna will be present. After the nomination, a public meeting will also be held at the GIC Ukhimath ground at 12:30 pm.
