Uttarakhand POlls 2012
Pact with BJP proved ‘suicidal’ for UKD
Rajeev Khanna
Tribune News Service

Nainital, December 29
The demise of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) as a political entity and the freezing of “chair” as the party symbol by the Election Commission of India (ECI) encapsulates the suicidal journey on which the party leadership had taken it on since the creation of the state.

That the UKD would meet such a fate in just 11 years of the formation of Uttarakhand was simply unimaginable. “It is a sad development. Earlier also we have seen the likes of the Socialist party and even the Communist Party of India (CPI) facing divisions and new entities coming into existence but the original entity has always survived. But this is perhaps the first time that both the name and the symbol stand frozen,” says eminent historian Shekhar Pathak who is also an expert on the political evolution of Uttarakhand as a state. Frequent squabbling between the two factions and inability of the top leadership to put the act together has spelt doom for the party.

Thinking about the Uttarakhand statehood agitation minus the contribution made by the UKD leadership cannot be perceived. It was the party that had led from the front playing up the emotive issues related to the problems of the people living in the hills and also their aspirations. But, the party failed to convert its initial support base into electoral benefits and had slid from bad to worse in the past 11 years just when the state for which it fought started growing from infancy to adolescence.

Ironically, while the regional parties across the nation have been making strong electoral gains over the past two decades, the UKD’s fortunes had dipped constantly. From a strength of four in the first Assembly poll conducted in 2002, the tally slid by one in the next poll in 2007 and the party witnessed a split before the term of the Assembly ended. It was the tussle between the two factions led by Cabinet minister Diwakar Bhatt and Trivendra Singh Panwar that led to the political demise of the party and its symbol.

Having contested all the five Lok Sabha seats in the 2009 Parliamentary poll, the party had fared miserably. With all the candidates of UKD losing their deposits, the party graph had hit an all-time low. The vote share of the UKD had dipped from 43,899 in the 2004 general elections to 38,100 in the 2009 election.

Observers say that the party’s alignment with the BJP had been the first step towards suicide. Even the party cadres feel so. Established on July 25, 1979 to fight for a separate state comprising the hill districts of Uttar Pradesh, the UKD has had stalwarts like Dr DD Pant as its founder president. It has had leaders like Kashi Singh Airy, BD Raturi and JS Bisht in its fold who spearheaded the movement for the creation of 
Uttarakhand.

Old timers feel that the party’s resolve to give up its role as the flag bearer to become a part of the Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti for creation of Uttarakhand coupled with its decision to boycott the 1994 Uttar Pradesh Assembly poll also proved to be counter productive in the long run.

It remains to be seen that what names and symbols the two factions choose in the next week. Whether they would be able to come up as regional alternatives to the Congress and the BJP in the state remains a far-fetched possibility, at least for now.

Party activists will never forgive Panwar, says Diwakar Bhatt
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 29
While reminiscing his bitter past in the context of losing party symbol, state minister and president of the Uttarkhand Kranti Dal (D) Diwakar Bhatt said it was unprecedented the way he was removed from the party within 8 days of withdrawal of support to the state government by the then president of the combined UKD party, Trivender Singh Panwar, on 27 November.

He said he had heard of expulsion of six years under disciplinary action but never of lifetime, as was done in his case. He said the public and party activists would never forgive Panwar for conspiring to divide the party. Same party with two symbols would create confusion and mislead voters, he said.

He said when Panwar had led the party in the 1997 election, it ended up in forfeiture of the security amount and when he himself took over the rein in 2002 as the president of the party, he facilitated recognition to the party.

He made it clear that for him, his party was above winning election.

“If my objective was to win election at any cost, then I would have joined Congress long ago. There are two alternatives in front of us; either we fight all the 70 seats or join hands with the BJP. We will talk to the BJP if it could accommodate us for 5 to 7 seats under a respectable agreement. We won 3 in first the Assembly election and 4 in the next, this time we are hoping to get 5 or 7,” he stated.

He laughed away the squabbling within the Uttarkhand United Regional Front saying such an experiment of creating a regional front had failed drastically in 1999 when all parties put together could not even get more than 10,000 votes.

The party has constituted three committees. BD Raturi has been appointed the president of the coordination committee, Shivanand

Chamoli the president of the Finance Committee and Luxman Singh Chufal, the president of the Publicity Committee. Bhatt has been empowered to take any decision on the matter of striking alliance with any party with regard to coming Assembly elections.

BJP influencing EC: Panwar
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 29
President of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (P) Trivender Singh Panwar levelled allegation on the Congress and BJP for influencing Election Commission (EC) of India in ridding the UKD of their party symbol. The EC had announced the decision to freeze the symbol ‘chair’ for both the factions on December 27.

Panwar said his party had taken pledge to wipe out both the national parties from the state in the coming Assembly polls. He said it was due to these parties that six seats had been reduced from the hill region under delimitation but reiterated they would bring back hill issues in prime focus in this election.

While sharpening his attack on Diwakar Bhatt, president of rival faction UKD (D) and state minister, he said Bhatt was expelled from the party under disciplinary action and not because of personal vendetta. “With the removal of Diwakar Bhatt, we have purged the party of the filth. Now we will usher into a clean politics,” he said.

He said his party would fight over 70 seats. He will hold a meeting with the CPI and CPM tomorrow on the matter.

Vehicle facility to leaders withdrawn
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 29
After the ministers in the state, now it is the turn of around hundred leaders accorded ministerial ranks in the BJP government to come down to earth, thanks to the model code of conduct in place.

Apprehending the misuse of facilities of official vehicles and guards extended to the ministerial rank holders, the Election Commission today issued a directive for the withdrawal of these facilities.

“The order has been issued today and all the facilities extended to the BJP leaders accorded ministerial status during the tenure of the BJP government have been withdrawn. Now these leaders would have to use their personal vehicles,” said Radha Raturi, chief electoral officer.

In order to placate the BJP leaders who were not accommodated in the Cabinet, Chief Minister BC Khanduri had given ministerial rank to several leaders and made them chairmen, heads of corporations, boards and committees.

These leaders with ministerial ranks not only receive salaries but are also given official vehicles and even gunners. Now with the model code in place, these facilities have been withdrawn.

It was the former Chief Minister ND Tiwari who is credited for starting this practice in 2002 and was bitterly criticised for encouraging profligacy in the state. During that period, more than 200 leaders were given these ranks. The issue was raked up by the BJP in the 2007 Assembly elections.

However, within months of taking over the stewardship of the government, Khanduri too started the similar practice.

“The order has just come in. It is in keeping with the model code of conduct. I will now use my personal vehicle,” said Kishan Chand Punetha, Vice-Chairman of the Organic Utpad Parishad.

Samajwadi Party announces names of four more candidates
Rajendra Badi to contest from Jhabreda, Rajan Rathore from Jwalapur, Shaheed Ahmed from Khanpur and Munesh Tyagi from Roorkee
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, December 29
The Samajwadi Party today announced the names of four more candidates. The announcement was made by working party chief RP Singh at the party office at Jwalapur. From the Jhabreda seat, former parliamentarian Rajendra Badi is in the fray while Rajan Rathore in the fray from Jwalapur, Shaheed Ahmed from Khanpur and Munesh Tyagi from Roorkee.

The party has announced the names of 38 candidates till date for the Assembly elections slated for January 30.

RP Singh said 20 more names had been forwarded to party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and after his consent the names would be declared.

Party leaders Kazi Chand, Love Dutta, Prince and Durgesh were also present at the meeting.

Long lists of aspirants in Tehri
Ajay Ramola

Mussoorie, December 29
With the announcement of the poll date, all eyes are now set on the lists of the candidates whom various parties will field from the six Assembly segments of the hill district of Tehri Garhwal.

Long lists of aspirants has become a headache for poll managers of major parties who, fearing rebel within, are taking every step cautiously before announcing the final lists of their candidates. So far, there is not even a single segment that has announced its candidate.

Independent candidates are trying to cash in on the anger brewing against both the BJP and the Congress.

The BJP is so far finding itself in a difficult situation with regard to the distribution of party ticket. However, it seems that the Congress has an easy choice from the Tehri Assembly seat in the form of Kishore Upadhyaya, a two-time legislator from Tehri. He is considered to be close to the Gandhi family and likely to get another opportunity.

From Narendranagar, former MLA Subodh Uniyal is ahead his rival, Rajendar Kandari. Since former MLA Mantri Prasad Naithani does not have a strong rival, the party is likely to field him from the Devprayag seat.

However, the Congress is facing a challenge in finding suitable candidates for the Dhanaulti, Pratapnagar and Ghansali seats. Local leaders are trying their to get the ticket from the Pratapnagar seat.

Balbir Negi, Survir Singh Sajvan, Vikram Negi, Pravin Bhandari and Puran Chand Ramola are the leading aspirants from Pratapnagar.

The Ghansali constituency, reserved for the Scheduled Caste, does not have a long list of aspirants but the Congress is searching for a winnable candidate from here. Dhani Lal Shah and Sivcharan Lal are in the race from here so far.

With the Election Commission converting the Schedule Caste seat of Dhanaulti into a general one after 43 years, the number of aspirants from the Congress has increased.

Former Mussoorie Municipal Council chief Manmohan Singh Mall, considered to be a close aide of Tehri Lok Sabha MP Vijay Bahuguna, has emerged as a strong contender From Dhanaulti. Former pramukh Jot Singh Bisht, considered close to Union minister Harish Rawat, has also staked his claim for the seat. The others in the race are former block head Kirti Singh Negi, former head Somvari Lal Uniyal, Mahavir Singh Rawat and Devi Singh Chauhan.

Devi Singh Chauhan used to be a close supporter of Manmohan Singh Mall but has now parted ways with him.

The BJP is in a fix on all six seats. Former minister Lakhi Ram Joshi is the frontrunner for the Tehri seat so far, but Meharban Singh Rawat and Dhan Singh Negi have also staked their claim for the seat.

Party bigwigs are aware that the Tehri seat has been a stronghold of the Congress and therefore there is a need to field a strong candidate from here.

From the Narendar Nagar seat, Aditya Kothari, Maharani Raj Lakshmi and Gyan Singh Negi have staked their claims for the BJP. The party is searching for a strong candidate from the Devprayag constituency. Mahipal Singh, Raghuvir Singh and Vinod Suyal are the strong contenders for this seat so far.

From the Pratapnagar seat, sitting MLA Vijay Panwar and Rajeshwar Painuly are trying to get nominations for the seat.

Shakti Lal Shah and Bhim Lal Arya are staking their claims for the Ghansali seat for the BJP.

The BJP is finding it difficult to manage the Dhanolty constituency as it has been converted into general one from the Schedule Caste category. The father of Jaspal Rana, an international fame shooter and a close relative of former BJP national president Rajnath Singh, is looking as a strong contender at the moment due to his close proximity with the high command. But according to sources, there is a lot of opposition to his candidature at the grassroots-workers level.

Zila Panchayat member Subash Ramola, a close aide of former Chief Minister BS Koshyari, has also emerged as a strong contender from the seat. Subash Ramola has a strong hold over the youth and is also in good books of the Sangh Parivaar.

According to sources, all other senior leaders in the fray are opposing Subash Ramola’s candidature. Vice-president of the Zila Panchayat, Tehri Garhwal, Meera Saklani and Geeta Rawat are also staking their claim from Dhanolty.

Other candidates trying to get the ticket from the seat are Rajesh Nautiyal, Mahavir Rangad and Virendar Chauhan, all senior leaders of the BJP.

64 contenders for ticket for Ranipur-BHEL seat
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar December 29
After the new delimitation, political scenario has changed. Earlier, there used to be eight seats in Haridwar, but now it have increased to 11. The Ranipur-BHEL Assembly segment, one of the newest, has the maximum number of ticket aspirants, particularly from the Congress.

At a meeting of the screening panel committee held here recently, 64 candidates had applied from this segment. Now six names that are making the rounds are former legislator Ambrish Kumar, city Congress chief OP Chauhan, former women commission chief Santosh Chauhan, kisan women’s cell chief Poonam Bhagat, working women’s executive district body chief Kiran Singh and general secretary of the Pradesh Congress Committee Rao Affaq Ali.

Ambrish Kumar is ahead of other contenders owing to his being a former legislator and a known face in the region. He has a good following and mass base in the district.

However, two things can go against Ambrish. He had left the Congress in 1985 to join the Samajwadi Party. And his decision to rejoin the Congress two months ago has not gone down well with district party leaders. Secondly, voters in the district have still not forgot his “anti-hill” stance during the separate statehood agitation.

City Congress chief OP Chauhan is also a strong contender. His long association with the Sewa Dal also makes him a recognisable face in the party and he is also close to Harish Rawat. Being an employee of the public sector undertaking, BHEL, which now comes under the Ranipur-BHEL Assembly segment, it also goes in his favour.

As the suburban Jwalapur area, a Muslim-dominated area, also falls under the segment, the candidature of Rao Affaq Ali cannot be ignored.

Affaq is the general secretary of the PCC and a close aide of Harish Rawat, whom he describes as his political mentor. Having a strong base in the rural belts and being from the minority community, he might get party ticket.

Interestingly, more than 12 women are trying to get ticket from the seat. Leading this front is former women commission chief Santosh Chauhan, also the general secretary of the state Congress. She is also close to state Congress chief Yashpal Arya and Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly HS Rawat.

Another politician from the party, Poonam Bhagat, has also staked her claim for the ticket from the seat. Kiran Singh, working district chief of the party, also wants to get ticket from the seat.

Khanduri optimistic of doing well
SMA Kazmi
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 29
Uttarakhand Chief Minister BC Khanduri remains confident that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would do well in the coming Assembly polls in the state. "I have done my best during the short span of time that I got in my second innings,” Khanduri told The Tribune here today.

When asked about the prospects of his party returning back to power, Khanduri replied that the general impression among the common people about his tenure had been positive. “The feedback I have got from across the state is favourable and positive,” he added.

On the work done by him during his second tenure as a Chief Minister, he claimed that his government had moved swift and fast to enact a number of legislations that would go a long way in the betterment of the state and for good governance. “By enacting legislation on a transparent transfer policy of employees, bringing in the Lokayukta Bill and the Right to Services Act, a positive message about good governance has reached the masses,” he claimed.

He said he had taken 33 major decisions during his second tenure. “These are not mere announcements but we have issued government notifications for the decisions,” he said.

He also highlighted the decision of regularising the land cases which had been pending in the state for more than seven decades besides freeing 4 lakh hectares of land which was not forest but was under administrative control of the forest department for undertaking developmental works.

“Our biggest worry is to provide jobs and employment to youth of the state and industrial development in the hills,” he said. Khanduri said during his first stint, he had initiated a policy of encouraging pollution-free industry to come to the hills, but since the central industrial package was in vogue, it could not succeed.

“After taking over again in September, we have come up with a comprehensive industrial package for hills and industrialists have shown a lot of interest since the central package has come to an end. I am hopeful that it would bear fruits in the next five years,” said Khanduri.

Expressing concern over the migration from the hills, particularly from the border areas, Khanduri said it could stop only by industrialisation of the hill districts and providing basic infrastructural facilities in the areas.

“It is my cherished dream to start a “reverse migration” in the hill areas where people who had gone outside in search of better opportunities return back to their native places in the hills because of industrialisation and rapid development,” said Khanduri.

Rain-hit Nainital dist gears up for poll
Rajeev Khanna
Tribune News Service

Nainital, December 29
For a district where infrastructure has been in a mess since the prolonged monsoon battered it in September, 2010, conducting the poll is not expected to be an easy affair. It is perhaps with this burden in mind that District Magistrate DS Garbyal, who is also the District Election Officer (DEO), has ordered the officials from the Health, Water Supplies, Power, Education, Food and Civil Supplies, Public Works and Disaster Management departments to put their houses in order so that the polling exercise can be conducted smoothly in the district.

Addressing the officials of the Public Works Department (PWD), he has ordered that it should be ensured that all the roads are open and fit for vehicular movement. The officials have been asked to make ample arrangements like requisitioning of bulldozers and excavators so that the roads can be opened immediately in case of a blockade. This needs to be done in order to ensure that the officials involved in carrying out the election exercise manage to reach their designated areas of operations well in time. Certain roads like the Bhawali-Almora highway have witnessed frequent blockades since September, 2010, that have been resulting from landslides in the Jaurasi area.

Similarly, the officials of the Health Department have been told to maintain appropriate stock of drugs and medicines that are easily available during the election period.

Instructions have been given to the officials of the Jal Sansthan and Power Department to see to it that the supplies are not disrupted while the election process is in progress in the district.

The officials of Department of Food and Civil Supplies have bee told to maintain a proper stock of kerosene and food grains in the remote areas where polling stations would be made so that the personnel reaching there for getting the polling done do not face any problems.

The officials of the Education Department have been told to get repair works done in schools where polling booths would be set up. They have been asked to maintain a close coordination with the administrative officials at the block level.

At the same time the Sub Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) and Block Development Officers (BDOs) have been asked to keep their photostat and fax machines along with their telephones in working condition.

The officials of the Disaster Management Cell in the district have been asked to be ready to assist in any sort of operations for which the need arises.

Contest for ticket gets tougher in Pithoragarh
Elimination of three seats in Kumaon region has led to candidates who were representing these seats looking for newer seats
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, December 29
The three Assembly seats that have been eliminated under the latest delimitation in the Kumaon region have created new challenges before the candidates who were representing these seats as they have to look for newer seats. It has created problems for those who had been nurturing their areas to get ticket and have started facing tough competition from the sitting MLAs who want ticket from the new seats.

“The new claimants have created extra competition for me. I have been in touch with the people of Pithoragarh since last time when I lost to the BJP,” said Ravindra Singh Bisht, an aspirant from the Pithoragarh seat, commenting on the entry of Kannalichina legislator Mayukh Mahar in the fray to claim the Congress ticket from Pithoragarh .

The seats of Kanda in Bageshwar, Kanalichina in Pithoragarh district and Bhikiasain in Almora district have been eliminated under the new delimitation by the Election Commission.

Sixtyseven booths, out of a total 69 booths of the Kannlichina seat, have been merged with the Didihat Assembly seat while only two booths have been merged with the Pithoragarh seat. In the fresh delimitation of the Pithoragarh and Didihat seats, the areas with Thakur-dominated voters have gone to Didihat. The people of Kanalichina have expressed their ire against the sitting Congress MLA , Mayukh Mahar, as, according to them, he was voted by the hitherto backward areas of Kanalichina to give the region a separate identity but they feel he has deserted them in claiming the party ticket from Pithoragarh instead of Didihat.

“The Kanalichina voters have opted Congress candidate and rejected UKD bigwig Kashi Singh Airy in the last Assembly poll, only because they thought that he will get them their developmental dues but he played politics with the poor voters of the seat by demanding ticket from the Pithoragarh seat,” said Chandan Joshi, a villager from Dobans village of the erstwhile Assembly seat.

The Bhikiasain seat in Almora district has been divided between, Ranikhet, Salt and Dwarahat Assembly seats. “As the areas of Kaklaso, Binayak, Sanara and Kedar Jainal areas have been included in the Ranikhet seat, the seat has become more comfortable for me,” says Karan Mahara, sitting Congress MLA from Ranikhet seat. Dwarahat sitting MLA Pushpesh Tripathi has also felt that delimitation would help him.

The BSP candidate from the Ranikhet seat, Puran Singh Dangwal, is also happy with new delimitation. “The villages, which have been included, are mostly Thakur dominated and have been my supporters since I joined the politics. Therefore, this time my chances to win are bright,” said Dangwal. Congress MLA from Salt, Ranjit Rawat also expressed satisfaction over the delimitation saying that, though the geographical area of his Assembly seat has expanded due to the inclusion of the Syalday area in Salt from Ranikhet, politically it would be convenient.

Champawat MLA’s entry in fray may hit Mahra’s prospects
Our Correspondent

Beena Mahrana

Pithoragarh, December 29
Prospects of Congress sitting MLA Mahendra Singh Mahra may be affected as BJP MLA from Champawat Beena Mahrana has opted for party ticket from the Logahat Assembly constituency in Champawat district. “Beena has opted from Lohaghat for party ticket because most of her natives are settled in the Lohaghat area and she finds it difficult to keep in contact with those settled in the plain areas of Tanakpur in the district,” said a senior party leader.

Besides Beena, a score of BJP leaders have sought BJP ticket from the seat. They include former MLA from the seat Kishen Punetha, vice-chairman of the Cooperative Federation Hyat Singh Mahra and Lalit Pandey.

There is not much problem for the Congress as Mahendra Singh Mahra, who is also a former Agriculture Minister, is sure to get party nomination. He has started touring the villages assuring the people of fulfilment of their genuine demands if the Congress government comes to power in the state. However, Mahra is faces a challenge in veteran Congress leader and once his loyal, Laxaman Singh Lamgaria. Lamgaria has also applied for the Champawat seat along with former MLA Hamesh Kharkwal and Tanakpur Nagar Palika chairman Harshbardhan Singh Rawat.

The BJP has a long list of aspirants from the Champawat seat. Apart from Beena, vice-chairman of the State Wool Development Board Shiv Raj Singh Kathayat, senior BJP leader Shankar Pandey, firebrand BJP woman leader Heema Joshi and Hemesh Kalkhuria have also applied for BJP ticket from Chamapawat.

The UKD (P) group has named Prahlad Singh Mehta from the Lohaghat seat while Aan Singh Mahar, Narayan Singh Mahar and Manju Taragi are aspirants from the Champawat seat.

The Bahujan Samaj Party has already announced the names of Madan Mahar and Govind Pandey from the Champawat and Lohaghat seats, respectively, while the Samajwadi Party has named Lalit Mohan Bhatt from the Champawat seat. “The electoral battle on both the seats depends on the decision of the BJP and the Congress. If both the parties prefer new faces, then the fight will be tough, but if they prefer the sitting aspirants, then anti-incumbency factor will dominate in both the seats,” said a senior BJP leader in Champawat.

Distribution of Ticket
Muslim leaders write to Sonia
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 29
Various Muslim organisations of Dehradun have written to Congress president Sonia Gandhi against giving party ticket to such candidates who have been working “against” the Muslim community over the years.

Jamiatul Ulema, Uttarakhand, a group of clerics, said some of the candidates proposed by senior party leaders had been working against the Muslim community for the past three decades.

In the letter, Mufti Rayees Ahmed Qasmi of the organisation said Rajpal Pundir, a Congress probable from the Dehradun cantonment Assembly segment, had a running feud over the possession of a Muslim graveyard for the past three decades. There had been several instances where he along with members of his family had prevented dead from being buried in the Muslim graveyard. The Muslim community is fighting a legal battle against him and his family on the issue. Mufti Rayees said by giving party ticket to such people who are known “anti-Muslim”, the party would be losing the support of the community in the coming Assembly elections.

Imams of several mosques of the city and adjoining areas also wrote that Rajpal Pundir has been propped by Tehri Garhwal MP Vijay Bahuguna which is most unfortunate for the future of the Congress.

Rais Ahmed Siddiqui of the National Action Forum for Social Justice has also sent a list of court cases being fought by Rajpal Pundir and his family against the Muslim community in various courts.

Nigmanand’s Death
No evidence of poisoning, says CBI
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 29
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has found no evidence of poisoning in the death of Swami Nigmanand as was claimed by the Matra Sadan ashram. Swami Nigmanand had died after undertaking a 120-day fast in support of his demand for a ban on quarrying activities on the Ganga riverbed.

Bramhachari Dayanand of Matri Sadan, Haridwar, had lodged a complaint with the police on May 11 this year alleging that a doctor of the District Hospital, Haridwar, attempted to kill Swami Nigmanand by getting him administered poison through an nurse during the treatment.

However, the CBI has found no evidences of any poisoning. Thus technical, clinical and medical investigation has concluded that the cause of death was malnutrition leading to Wernike’s encephalopathy and associated complications due to prolonged fasting.

1,53,993 voters in Champawat, Lohaghat
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, December 29
The number of voters in the two seats of Champawat district is 1,52,993. Out of these, the number of male voters is 80,418 and female is 72,575. A total of 298 polling booths have been formed in the district.

According to the Champawat district election office, the number of voters in the Champawat Assembly constituency is 69,145, of which the number of male voters is 36,562 and female is 32,583. There are 135 polling booth in the constituency at present.

The number of voters in the Lohaghat Assembly constituency is 83,848. Out of this, the number of male voters is 43,856 and female is 39,992. There are 163 polling booth in this constituency at present.