He is the son of former chief minister Vijay Bahuguna, who had won the seat in 2009 and resigned in 2012 after becoming chief minister. In the by-poll that followed, BJP candidate Mala Rajya Laxmi defeated Saket Bahuguna.
After last year's flash floods in Uttarakhand caused devastation and rendered thousands of people homeless, the Congress government and then chief minister Vijay Bahuguna drew flak due to slow rehabilitation and provision of aid.
Later , Bahuguna was replaced by Harish Rawat, after a nearly two-year term.
BJP candidate Laxmi is the richest candidate in the fray here, with assets worth over Rs.166 crore.
In Almora, incumbent Lok Sabha member Pradeep Tamta of the Congress is pitted against Ajay Tamta of the BJP.
