The election for the post of the mayor of the municipal corporation Kotdwar has become a prestigious one for both the Congress and the BJP. Following the elevation of municipal council into municipal corporation by the BJP Government, this is the first election for the post of mayor and members of the corporation.
Eleven candidates have filed their nomination papers for the post of mayor of the civic body. They include Neetu Rawat (BJP), Hemlata Negi (Congress), Sobha (BSP) and Suneeta Devi (UKD).
Tuesday being the last day of the nomination, BJP candidate Neetu Rawat filed her nomination in the forenoon while Congress candidate Hemlata Negi filed her nomination in the afternoon. Besides, the former municipal council Kotdwar president Sashi Nainwal filed nomination as Independent candidate.
Hemlata Negi, the Congress candidate, is wife of the former State Minister, Surendra Singh Negi, while the BJP candidate Neetu Rawat is the wife of the BJP leader Dalip Rawat.
Observers say that the contest is likely to be a keen and an interesting one because of the fact that it would boil down to a prestige contest between the redoubtable Cabinet Minister and local MLA Harak Singh Rawat and the State Congress stalwart and former Minister Surendra Singh Negi.
However, with the entry of BSP into the mayoral fray, the contest is likely to be a triangular one, say some observers. What is more, the contest can turn into a four-cornered one if Vibha Chauhan, wife of BJP leader Dhirendra Chauhan, who also filed her nomination papers as an Independent candidate, decides to stay put in the fray.
Things would be clear after the withdrawal of the nomination is over, say the observers and add that the results would indicate which way the wind is blowing for the upcoming general election slated early next year. “BJP and Congress would definitely pull out all the stops to win the mayoral election. However, things would be a bit uncertain if the BSP, UKD and some Independents can substantially eat into the votes of the two principal contestants,” says an observer.