BJP, Congress brace for direct fight in Uttarakhand's Kedarnath

Stage is set for a direct fight between the BJP and Congress in Kedarnath Assembly segment which holds special significance for the Hindus being home one of the twelve jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.

Both parties announced candidates for the high-profile Assembly bypoll on November 20.

While the BJP has fielded Asha Nautiyal, Uttarakhand women’s wing chief, the Congress has nominated former MLA Manoj Rawat.

The byelection has been necessitated due to the demise of BJP lawmaker Shaila Rani Rawat whose daughter had staked claim to the seat.

Since the 2022 Assembly election in the state, four byelections have been held in Uttarakhand, with the BJP and the Congress winning two each.

On July 10 this year, the Congress had upset the BJP by bagging Badrinath and Manglaur seats.

This was soon after the BJP bagged all five Lok Sabha seats in Uttarakhand for a third time in a row.