13 July 2012
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna emerged victorious in a by-election that was held for the Sitarganj assembly seat on 8 July 2012. The election result declared on 11 July 2012 saw Bahuguna defeating his closest rival, BJP candidate Prakash Pant, by a record margin of 39954 votes. Bahuguna received 53566 votes while, BJP candidate Prakash Pant got only 13812 votes out of the total 69695 in the by-election. The margin of victory by which Bahugua has won the election is the highest in Uttarakhand assembly elections since 2002.
Vijay Bahuguna had taken oath as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand on 13 March 2012, after Congress had defeated incumbent BJP in the state assembly elections held in February 2012. With the Vijay Bahuguna joining the state assembly the number of Congress legislators has risen from 32 to 33. The BJP's strength in the 70 seat assembly now stands at 30. Three Independent BSP MLAs are also extending their support to the Congress in the state assembly.
Son of Hemwanti Nandan Bahuguna, the former Chief Minster of Uttar Pradesh, Vijay Bahuguna is the first former high court judge to become a chief minister. He had also been the member of Lok Sabha in the 14th and 15th Lok Sabha. He represented the Tehari Garhwal Lok Sabha constituency.
Importanat Information
Article 164(4) provides that a Minister who for any period of six consecutive months is not a member of the legislature of the State shall at the expiration of that period cease to be a Ministerod of six months.
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