"His stint as Union minister for roads and surface transport is also remembered as many state highways were given the status of national highways during his time. An industrial package was also given to the state during his term. All this will definitely help him at the hustings," said Janardhan Prasad Dobhal, a resident of Pauri.
Khanduri's clean image makes him fit the bill in the current scenario where Narendra Modi assures he will give a corruption-free government.
His army background too could give him an advantage over Harak as a majority of families in Garhwal have one or more members in the army, serving or retired.
Congress also had a slow start in the constituency as Satpal Maharaj, who was initially reluctant to contest, finally defected to BJP, dampening the spirit of Congress workers.
Congress took long to finalise a candidate as Harak Singh initially was not willing to contest. The prolonged indecision in Congress about a nominee gave BJP an advantage with Khanduri having already made several rounds of campaigning in Pauri so far.
Moreover, Harak Singh will also have to share the blame along with former chief minister Vijay Bahuguna for the slipshod handling of the mid-June calamity last year as areas (like Kedarnath, Gaurikund and Rambara), which suffered the worst damage in the tragedy, fall under his assembly constituency.
Harak Singh has had his share of controversies too with a woman levelling the charge of molestation against him a few months back only to withdraw it later.
His name had also cropped up in connection with a firing incident in the middle of a party at his residence some months ago which had left two persons injured.
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