With counting of votes beginning on Friday, fate of 24 candidates contesting from both the lok Sabha constituencies of the Kumaon division, including the Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar and Almora-Pithoragarh constituencies, will also be known on the same day.
Following employment of state of the art technology for counting of votes comprising Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and trained manpower, results of the aforesaid lok Sabha seats are expected by any time in the afternoon on Friday.
While there are 15 candidates contesting from the Nainital -Udham Singh Nagar lok Sabha seat, as many as nine candidates are in the fray from the neighbouring Almora-Pithoragarh constituency.
Interestingly, with both the lok Sabha seats of the Kumaon division witnessing a higher voter turnout in the recently concluded general elections, curiosity of all including the general public has gone up about the outcome of the popular verdict.
The poll percentage of Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar parliamentary constituency was recorded about 68 per cent in these elections i.e. about 10 percent higher than that of the lok Sabha polls held for the same seat in 2004, while the Almora- Pithoragarh parliamentary seat witnessed about 52 percent voter turnout which is about six per cent more than the lok Sabha elections held for the same seat in 2004.
Among the prominent candidates who are in the fray for the Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar parliamentary constituency include BJP's Bhagat Singh Koshiyari and Congress' K C Singh Baba. Interestingly, the main electoral battle for the foresaid seat is between the BJP and the Congress party.
Similarly, among the prominent candidates who are in the fray for the Almora- Pithoragarh parliamentary seat include BJP's Ajay Tamta and Congress' Pradeep Tamta. The electoral battle for the aforesaid seat is also between the Congress and the BJP. It is also to note presently both lok Sabha seats of the Kumaon division are with the Congress party.
At the same time, officials concerned of the respective district election offices have claimed to have made elaborate security arrangements and taken necessary steps to ensure smooth conduct of the counting of votes on Friday.