Shimla, May 31: In the recent municipal elections in Himachal Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured a significant lead, winning a clear majority in the municipalities of Mandi, Solan, and Dharamshala. Meanwhile, the Congress party made a remarkable showing in Palampur, surpassing the BJP.
According to the final results released by the State Election Commission, the BJP won 37 out of 63 total wards across the four municipalities, while Congress claimed 23 seats. Independent candidates emerged victorious in three wards.
The BJP achieved its largest victory in Mandi municipality, capturing 12 out of 14 wards. Congress and an independent candidate each won one seat.
In Solan municipality, the BJP also secured a majority, winning 10 out of 17 seats. Congress obtained 6 seats, with one seat going to an independent candidate.
Dharamshala municipality saw the BJP winning 11 seats, maintaining its control over the municipality. Congress succeeded in 5 wards, while an independent candidate won one seat.
However, the scenario was different in Palampur, where Congress won a decisive majority, securing 11 out of 15 wards, while the BJP managed only 4 seats.
Voting for all four municipalities took place on May 17. The elections were contested under the political party symbols, showcasing a direct competition between BJP and Congress.
Additionally, the counting of votes for the Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad elections is ongoing in the state. The State Election Commission reports that counting is underway for 250 Zila Parishad seats and 1,674 Panchayat Samiti wards. So far, results for nearly 1,000 Panchayat Samiti members and 5 Zila Parishad members have been announced.
Surjit Singh Rathore, Secretary of the State Election Commission, stated that the election process was conducted peacefully, fairly, and transparently. He expressed gratitude to voters, election personnel, security forces, and political parties for their cooperation.
These results demonstrate the BJP’s strong hold on urban bodies, while Congress’s victory in Palampur is seen as a significant relief for the party. All eyes are now on the final outcomes of the Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad elections.
Opposition leader in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly and former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur remarked that Congress had previously claimed these elections would not matter since they were not contested under the party symbol. He stated that the real test would be in the municipal elections, where they expected to win in Mandi, Dharamshala, Solan, and Palampur. With the municipal elections concluded, the results serve as a strong message to Congress and its government that their time may soon be over.
BJP MLA Sudhir Sharma commented on the party’s victory in Dharamshala, stating that the public has shown immense support and trust in the BJP and its candidates through their votes. Parveen Prakash, upon winning, thanked the voters, emphasizing that their support was the key to victory. He pledged to meet the public’s expectations.
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