Uttarakhand goes to the polls today

Dehradun, January 29

The stage is all set for Assembly elections in Uttarakhand tomorrow to elect 70 members to the Vidhan Sabha as tight security arrangements have been made to ensure free and fair elections.

More than 63 lakh voters are expected to exercise their franchise in the elections in which the ruling BJP is locked in a close fight with the Congress.

Polling parties have reached their destinations in high-altitude and remote areas, state's Chief Electoral Officer Radha Raturi said.

With electioneering for the Assembly elections coming to an end last evening, most of the candidates today remained busy in door-to-door campaigning.

A total of 788 candidates are trying their luck with the BJP and Congress both contesting all the 70 seats.

The star campaigners from both parties crisscrossed the hill state. With the EC enforcing the model code of conduct to check money power, the cacophony of electioneering was missing.

Stating that elaborate arrangements have been made for the smooth conduct of polling, Raturi said the poll personnel deployed in high-altitude areas have been provided with sleeping bags, snow-boot and jackets. An Indian Air Force helicopter has also been stationed at Sarsawa for rescue purpose to meet any eventuality, she said.