Uttarakhand Elections 2027: A Look at Champawat and Lohaghat Constituencies

Dehradun, November 3 (Daily Kiran) : The political landscape in Uttarakhand is heating up as the 2027 assembly elections approach. Parties are gearing up for the crucial contests, particularly in the Champawat district, which consists of two assembly seats: Lohaghat and Champawat.

Champawat is regarded as the state’s most high-profile constituency. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami secured a historic victory here during the 2022 by-elections. Previously, in the 2022 general elections, BJP’s Kailash Gahatoori won this seat, but after Dhami lost in the Khatima seat, Gahatoori vacated it for him. In the by-election, Dhami defeated Congress candidate Nirmala Gahatoori by a significant margin of 55,025 votes, garnering 58,258 votes compared to Gahatoori’s 3,233.

Under Dhami’s leadership, the BJP considers the Champawat seat a stronghold. Should he run again, the competition is expected to be intense. Voter decisions here are heavily influenced by caste dynamics, local development initiatives, law and order, and agricultural issues.

In contrast, Lohaghat has seen a shift in power. After winning consecutively in 2012 and 2017, the BJP faced defeat in the 2022 elections, with Congress snatching the seat. Congress candidate Khushal Singh Adhikari won against BJP’s Puran Singh Fartyal by a margin of 6,038 votes, receiving 32,950 votes to Fartyal’s 26,912.

Congress currently enjoys a favorable position in Lohaghat. Recently, several local BJP leaders have switched allegiance to Congress. The BJP is making concerted efforts to reclaim this seat, focusing on strengthening its organization and addressing local issues following their previous loss. Additionally, the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal is also gearing up for a strong campaign. It remains to be seen whether Congress can maintain its winning streak or if the BJP will make a comeback in Lohaghat.