2019 LS Polls | Uttarakhand: BJP, Congress candidates battle it out in 5 seats in hill state

The state is primarily divided into two regions -- Kumaon and Garhwal. According to the 2011 census, Uttarakhand has a population of 69,97,433, with 66.75 per cent of its population residing in rural areas.

BJP and INC flags

New Delhi: The first phase of voting in 91 constituencies across 20 states and 2 Union territories for the 2019 general elections got underway from today.The first phase of voting shall is also underway in Uttarakhand with 52 candidates contesting in five constituencies. As per early reports, 10 percent voter turnout was recorded across the 5 constituencies in the first hour of voting in the state. Voting which began at 7 a.m. will continue till 5 p.m., said Chief Electoral Officer Saujanya. People were seen queuing up outside the polling booths even before the voting exercise started. There are 52 candidates trying their luck at the hustings. All arrangements have been completed in advance for a "fair and free" election using EVMs with 137 per cent VVPATs (37 per cent reserved), said Saujanya. "Our forces are on the alert for a peaceful process," said Uttarakhand Director General of Police Anil Raturi speaking about the tight security arrangement made all over the state. The Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian National Congress (INC) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) are the main parties in the fray. For phase 1 Lok Sabha election on April 11, number of polling centres are 11,235. The state is primarily divided into two regions -- Kumaon and Garhwal. According to the 2011 census, Uttarakhand has a population of 69,97,433, with 66.75 per cent of its population residing in rural areas. The Bharatiya Janata Party has a hegemony in the state sweeping all the five parliamentary seats in the last general elections. In the 2017 assembly elections, BJP won 57 out of the 70 seats. The Congress, which won 11 seats, is the main opposition in the state. In the 2009 election, Congress won all five seats. Historically, for Uttarakhand, parties that hold a majority in the state elections, lose the Lok Sabha elections.