Summary:
Dehradun, Mar 11 (PTI) Not much was known about Mohan Singh Bisht, a humble BJP leader from Halduchaur area in Nainital district, until he defeated Congress campaign head and former chief minister Harish Rawat from Lalkuwa on Thursday.
Before forcing arguably the tallest Congress leader from Uttarakhand to bite the dust in the polls to make his maiden entry into the state Assembly, Bisht had only won a zila panchayat poll in 2019.
However, being a local he enjoyed a connect with people at the grassroots and used Rawat"s tag of being an outsider to his advantage.
The party"s last minute decision to change Rawat"s seat from Ramnagar to Lalkuwa is also believed to have spoiled his chances.
Sandhya Dalakoti who had earlier been fielded by the Congress from Lalkuwa rebelled against the party and entered the fray as an independent.
Another major giant killer was state Congress working president Bhuvan Chandra Kapri who defeated Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami from Khatima by 6,579 votes.