Seven candidates are now left in the fray for the Pauri Vyapar Sabha election to two posts. Subodh Rawat withdrew his nomination for the post of the association general secretary on Sunday. Four candidates — Hemendra Singh Negi, Divendra Singh Rawat, Vinay Sharma, and Dharmendra Kathait — are contesting the polls for the post of the traders association president while three candidates — Rahat Hussain, Anoop Devrani and Sunil Rawat — are contesting for the post of general secretary. Kuldeep Singh Gusain was elected unopposed to the post of treasurer with no other candidates filing nomination for this post.
Uttarakhand Prantiya Udyog Vyapar Pratinidhi Mandal State secretary Abhaya Goel said that the election of the Pauri Vyapar Sabha will be held on August 9 in DAV Inter College at Pauri. A total of 1059 voters will exercise their franchise in the election. The UPUVPM president Anil Goel has nominated state secretary Abhaya Goel, state vice president Om Prakash Aggrawal and Pauri district president SR Manuja as election officers. Goel said that the district superintendent of police had been requested to provide at least six policemen for security and order on the polling day.
If sources are to be believed, Hemendra Singh Negi, a candidate for the post of the Vyapar Sabha president is being supported by the Pauri municipality president Yashpal Benam and his supporters while another candidate for the same post-Vinay Sharma is being supported by the Vyapar Sabha president Rajendra Rawat and his allies. Observers point out that Benam is attempting to consolidate his presence in the Vyapar Sabha after facing lack of support from this body for his stand on the issue of shifting of the Pauri collectorate.