Date:26/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/26/stories/2008012656710700.htm

National

Pauri by-election on February 24

Staff Correspondent

Seat vacated by Chief Minister

DEHRA DUN: The Election Commission on Friday announced that the Lok Sabha by-election from Pauri in Uttarakhand will be held on February 24.

Chief Electoral Officer Radha Raturi said that although the official notification would be issued on January 30, nominations can be filed up to February 6.

Poll schedule

The nomination papers will be scrutinised on February 7 and the last date for withdrawals is February 9. Counting of votes will take place on February 27.

The Pauri Lok Sabha seat was vacated by Chief Minister Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri after winning the Dhumakot Vidhan Sabha seat that was vacated by Congress strongman and former Minister Lt. Gen.(Retd) T. P. S. Rawat. General Rawat’s name has been forwarded by the State BJP unit to the party high command as the most preferred candidate.

Both Gen. Rawat and the Chief Minister have been nursing the Pauri constituency well by touring the remote areas and announcing several sops for the locals over the past several weeks.