This Article is From Jan 09, 2012

Uttarakhand polls: Family lock horns in Rudraprayag constituency

Garhwal, Uttarakhand: As Uttarakhand braces for the crucial Assembly polls due later this month, the Rudraprayag constituency has become a centre of attraction with two heavyweights from the same family gearing up for a no-holds-barred contest.

The situation stands interestingly poised as Congress has fielded Leader of Opposition Harak Singh Rawat against BJP's Matbar Singh Kandari, a cabinet minister and two-time MLA from the constituency.

Rawat is the brother-in-law of Kandari. Kandari, however, is trying to downplay the equation claiming that elections are not family affairs and are fought on issues of development.

"In politics, family relations don't count. They are fought in the name of development. I have contacted 75 per cent of my voters and they support me," he said.

Kandari, who is representing the Rudraprayag seat since its inception in 2002, is trying for a hat-trick. Rawat has also been an MLA from different seats for five times and a minister in cabinets of Uttarakhand and undivided Uttar Pradesh.

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