The voting for Uttarakhand’s 100 municipal bodies concluded on Thursday amidst active participation. As per early estimates, the voter turnout is likely to remain between 65% and 70%. The counting of votes will take place on January 25.
Harish Rawat’s Missing Vote Sparks Controversy
A significant controversy arose when former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat’s name was found missing from the voter list. Rawat claimed that he had previously voted in the Majra area and had been contacted by the Booth Level Officer (BLO). However, this time, his name was missing from the list. When questioned, the State Election Commission cited a server issue as the reason. Rawat expressed deep disappointment, calling it a serious lapse.
BJP’s Response
BJP state president Mahendra Bhatt criticized Rawat, sarcastically commenting that he was searching for his voter identity on polling day. Bhatt further alleged that Rawat’s frequent contesting from different constituencies, including Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, and Almora, created confusion about his voter registration. Bhatt accused Rawat of making such allegations out of fear of losing the elections.
