Dehra Dun, September 2
Uttarakhand Chief Minister B.C. Khanduri defeated Congress candidate Surinder Singh Negi in Dhumakot Assembly bye-election by a big margin of 14,000 votes as per the result declared today.

Khanduri polled 22,708 while his Congress rival secured only 8,537 votes, in what was considered to be a one-sided contest.

The victory further strengthened Khanduri’s position within the BJP in view of a strong opposition to his candidature as the leader of BJP legislature party.

Before contesting the bye-election, Khanduri represented parliamentary constituency of Pauri Garhwal which has Dhumakot as one of its Assembly segments. He had to contest the bye-election to enter the state Assembly after becoming the Chief Minister.

A former union minister, Khanduri was considered for the post of Chief Minister as central BJP leadership reposed faith in him instead of state BJP president and former CM Bhagat Singh Koshiyari.

After declaration of the result, Khanduri along with former Congress minister T.P.S. Rawat, who vacated Dhumakot seat to pave way for Khanduri to become MLA, addressed an impressive public meeting at Dhumakot to thank the voters.