Postal ballots of service personnel came to the rescue of BJP’s Lt Gen T P S Rawat (retd) helping him win the Pauri Garhwal Lok Sabha bypoll in a significant but closely fought electoral battle. Lt Gen Rawat defeated Congress candidate Satpal Maharaj by a margin of 4,506 votes.

Interestingly, Maharaj scored 98 more votes than Rawat when the EVMs were tabulated, but the BJP polled 5,595 ballot votes as compared to Congress’ 991. In all, Rawat polled 2,29,632 votes while Maharaj received 2,25,126 votes.

Chief Minister Maj Gen B C Khanduri (retd) had put his reputation at stake to seek votes for his fellow ex-serviceman. The bypoll was necessitated after Khanduri resigned following his election from Dhumakot to the state Assembly. Rawat had switched over to the BJP and vacated his Dhumakot seat.

Both candidates were neck and neck up to the final round of counting. Maharaj led in Dehradun, Chamoli and Rudraprayag, till Pauri, with over 5,595 service voters, titled the balance in favour of Rawat.