More than 20 aspirants, including MLA Shiv Arora, for BJP ticket from Rudrapur seat; only cabinet minister Saurabh Bahuguna in Sitarganj; MP Ajay Bhatt seeks party workers' views

The BJP has begun the process of choosing candidates for the coming assembly election. According to Dainik Bhaskar, Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar MP Ajay Bhatt sought views on Friday at the district BJP office in Rudrapur, speaking separately behind closed doors with office-bearers and possible aspirants. More than 20 leaders, including sitting MLA Shiv Arora, have staked a claim to the ticket from the Rudrapur seat. According to Hindustan, at the consultation held on Thursday at the Maharaja Agrasen Trust in Sitarganj, only the local MLA and cabinet minister Saurabh Bahuguna came forward as a claimant; all office-bearers unanimously backed him and no one else staked a claim. The BJP has not yet announced a candidate for any seat.