Dehradun: The BJP on Tuesday announced the candidature of its senior leader Prakash Pant against Uttarakahand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna in the Sitarganj assembly by-election.
Senior leaders of the Uttarakhand unit said while three names were sent to the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership, Pant got the green signal to contest. Pant has been a minister in successive BJP governments in the hill state. He lost the March assembly polls from Pithoragarh. Bahuguna, when he became the chief minister, was a MP from Tehri. He is contesting from Sitarganj as a Congress candidate. He filed his nomination papers June 14.
The Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Uttarakhand Kranti Dal have decided not to field a candidate against the chief minister citing political propriety. The election will be held on July 8. The seat fell vacant following the resignation of BJP legislator Kiran Mandal last month.
IANS