The timing of the Pithoragarh by election scheduled on November 25 makes it a crucial for both BJP which is ruling the state and the opposition Congress party. For ruling BJP, winning this election has become a matter of prestige as this seat was represented by the former Finance minister and senior leader Prakash Pant and after his death in June this year, the seat was lying unrepresented. The elections would be like a litmus test for the opposition Congress too as the organisational capabilities and credibility of the grand old party is at stake.

For BJP the election is important as these elections are being held close on heels of the Panchayat elections where the performance of the party was not very encouraging when compared with the spectacular performance of the party in the parliamentary elections held in April- May this year when the saffron party swept all the five seats with huge victory margins.

Further, the election result would be an indicator of the performance of the Trivendra Singh Rawat Government that has completed two and half years in the office.

The by-election is equally important for the opposition Congress party as the party would try hard to reverse the trend of successive electoral defeats in recent years.

The Congress party has suffered losses in the parliamentary elections of 2014, Assembly elections of 2017 and the municipal elections of last year. It also lost the Tharali by election to BJP.

In order to capture the sympathy votes, the BJP was wooing Chandra Pant, the wife of Late Prakash Pant to become its candidate, however it is learnt that Chandra Pant who is a government teacher by profession is not interested in entering electoral politics.

In such a case, the party is zeroing on to his brother Bhupesh Pant.

It is worth mentioning here that the BJP had fielded Munni Devi, the widow of late Magan Lal Shah as its candidate from Tharali assembly by-election held last year. Riding a tide of sympathy, Munni Devi emerged victorious defeating veteran Jeet Ram who was a formidable candidate.

From the Congress, former MLA, Mayukh Mahar is the natural contender; he however has exhibited no interest to contest the election.

After the creation of a separate state, Pithoragarh Assembly segment has witnessed contest between Mahar and Prakash Pant on three occasions. On two occasions, (2005 and 2017) Pant defeated Mahar while in the assembly elections of 2012 Mahar emerged victorious.

Though Mahar has not shown his disinterest to contest the elections, the party leaders are hopeful that he would accept the offer and contest the elections.

The Pithorgarh by elections would also be crucial for the former Chief Minister Harish Rawat as he has considerable influence in the area and the veteran leader is expected to campaign extensively for Congress candidate.