Manish Khanduri files nomination. Says he’ll make Pauri the IT hub to ensure jobs to youngsters of hills

25th March being the last day of filing nominations, the journalist turned Congress candidate from Pauri Garhwal Lok Sabha constituency Manish Khanduri today filed his nomination papers in the district collectorate at Pauri Garhwal in the presence of former ministers n Congress leaders viz. Surendra Singh Negi, Mantri Prasad Naithani, Lawmaker from Kedarnath Manoj Rawat, former MLA Ganesh Godiyal, Dr. Jeet Ram Tamta and several other yiuth Congress leaders n volunteers.

There was tremendous enthusiasm amongst the Congress workers n local leaders who’d reached Pauri in large numbers from the nearby areas, interior villages n from Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Pauri, Kotdwar n Ram Nagar.

After the filing of nomination the Congress workers took out a rally raising pro Congress n Manish Khanduri Zindabad slogans with the Congress candidate Manish Khanduri waving at the crowds. A rally was also held at Ram Leela Ground Pauri procession that converged here. There was an impressive attendence at Ram Leela Ground despite drizzling.

Addressing the audience and also to the press later on Manish Khanduri thanked the people of Garhwal n the Congress leadership for reposing faith in him by giving him the Congress ticket. Khanduri assured the state’s electorates that while using his global IT experience he will do his best to ensure that the global investors come to Uttarakhand and invest here massively to ensure that the Uttarakhand youths get jobs.

He promised to fulfil the Congress party’s poll promises pertaining to employment generation, improvement in health and eduction sectors including strengthening the secular fabric of the society. Several other Congress leaders, ex ministers and MLAs also addressed the public meeting organised in support of Manish Khanduri n appealed for votes.

It may be recalled that Manish is the son of the former CM UK n union minister Major genetal retired BC Khanduri who had represented Pauri Garhwal constituency in Lok Sabha for five times since 1991 on BJP ticket. He was badly disenchanted n angered by the BJP leadership for unceremoniously removing his father Major General n MP Khanduri from the Defence Committee of Parliament which resulted in his joining the Congress party at the invitation of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.

In return the Congress chief rewarded him with the party ticket. The BJP’s candidate from this seat is Tirath Singh Rawat. After the independent candidate Colonel Ajay Kothiyal’s giving up his earlier commitment to contest from Pauri Garhwal seat Manish Khanduri has come in a direct contest with the BJP which is banking on prime minister Narendra Modi’s charisma, hindu polarisation n ultra nationalism in view of the post Pulwama attack developments like air strikes on terror camps in Balakot Pakistan n the safe return of wing commander Abhinandan in just two days after being in Pakistan’s captivity.