Fate of as many as 24 candidates i.e. 15 candidates from the Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar parliamentary constituency and nine from the Almora-Pithoragarh constituencies of the Kumaon division was sealed in the Electronic Voting Machines on Wednesday.
The interesting fact here is that despite a variety of socio- economic issues coupled with complex caste equations the main electoral battles both in the Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar and Almora- Pithoragarh lok Sabha seats are between the Congress party and the BJP.
Here in the Nainital -Udham Singh Nagar parliamentary seat whereas incumbent Congress' K C Singh Baba is fighting to retain his seat for consecutive third term, the challenge before BJP's Bhagat Singh Koshiyari is to regain the same seat which the BJP has not won since 1998.
Similarly, there are nine candidates in the fray for the Almora- Pithoragarh parliamentary constituency (reserved).But the main electoral battle here is between the BJP and the Congress Party.
While Congress party's Pradeep Tamta is fighting to save his seat, BJP's Ajay Tamta who lost the Almora- Pithoragarh parliamentary seat to Congress' Pradeep Tamta by a thin margin, would definitely be hoping for better performance this time.
However, the mandate of the people which has been sealed in the EVMs, will be known only on May 16 when the nation is heading for a new Government formation at the Centre. However, by and large the polling for both the lok Sabha seats of the Kumaon divison went of peacefully on Wednesday with a moderate voter turnout.