Two former Army Generals on Tuesday entered into virtually a straight fight in the Lok Sabha elections after filing their nomination papers from the Pauri-Garhwal constituency.
Union Transport and Highways Minister Major General (retd) B C Khanduri (BJP) and his rival Uttaranchal Tourism Minister Lt General (retd) T P S Rawat as Congress candidate filed their nomination papers before the District Magistrate, Pauri, Harish Chandra Joshi, within a gap of one hour, officials said.
Khanduri has won from this constituency three times defeating his rival Congress leader Satpal Maharaj barring once in 1996 when Maharaj defeated Khanduri.
However, Maharaj this time withdrew from the contest and instead proposed the name of his close confidante Rawat in his bid to make it a contest between the two Generals.
Drum beatings and blowing of 'Nagadas' marked the filing of the nominations in both the occasions with the two leaders being taken out in big processions.