DEHRADUN: Days after BJP announced to field former Chaubattakhal MLA Tirath Singh Rawat from Pauri Garhwal Lok Sabha constituency, Col (retired) Ajay Kothiyal , on Sunday, announced his decision to not contest upcoming general elections.Addressing a press conference, Kothiyal said, “I won't contest polls in 2019. During my meetings in Delhi (for party ticket) I have understood that I am not someone who fits into the 'fixed ideology patterns' of the national parties. I will focus on my training camps to help youths join the Army.”Notably, according to media reports, Kothiyal was among the front-runners for a BJP ticket from the Pauri seat, however, after Congress announced to field Manish Khanduri, son of Lok Sabha member Major General (Retired) Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri from the seat, the saffron party inclined towards Tirath Singh Rawat.Kothiyal, former director of Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, had first shot to fame in 2013 after the then Congress government roped him to carry out redevelopment work following the Kedarnath tragedy. Riding high on popularity, he gained for the redevelopment work, Kothiyal decided to foray into politics.Political observers believe that he was pursuing both the Congress and the BJP for a party ticket from the Pauri seat. “I met all senior leaders in the Congress and BJP but I never knew the dynamics that goes behind in finalizing a party ticket,” said Kothiyal.When asked about his future plans, Kothiyal said, “I will expand my training centres in Kumaon to train more people. I have over 10,000 dedicated people for the same. I would be devoting myself more to basic issues of Uttarakhand be it migration, jobs, health and environment.”

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