Congress Wins Four Out of Six Assembly By-Elections in Himachal Pradesh, Strengthens Position in the State

Congress Wins Four Out of Six Assembly By-Elections in Himachal Pradesh, Strengthens Position in the State

In the recently concluded assembly by-elections in Himachal Pradesh, the Congress party has emerged victorious in four out of six seats, according to the Election Commission’s data. This outcome signifies a setback for the four Congress defectors who recently joined the BJP, as they faced defeat in these crucial by-elections. With these wins, the number of Congress legislators in the state assembly has risen to 38 out of an effective total of 65, ensuring that the Congress government in the state remains stable for now.

Election Results Breakdown

As per the Election Commission, Congress secured victories in the Sujanpur, Gagret, Kutlehar, and Lahaul-Spiti assembly seats. On the other hand, the BJP managed to win in the Dharamshala and Barsar constituencies. In the Sujanpur assembly by-election, Congress candidate Ranjit Singh defeated BJP’s Rajendra Rana by a margin of 2,440 votes. Notably, Rana had previously defected from the Congress to the BJP and had famously defeated former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal in the 2017 assembly elections.

Defections and Political Shifts

The by-elections were marked by significant political shifts and defections. Rajendra Rana’s switch to the BJP and his subsequent defeat in Sujanpur highlighted the turbulent political climate. Meanwhile, retired Captain Singh, who left the BJP after Rana was given the ticket for Sujanpur, rejoined the Congress and successfully contested the seat. According to the Election Commission’s website, Singh received 29,529 votes, while Rana garnered 27,089 votes.

Historic Win in Lahaul-Spiti

In a historic win, Congress candidate Anuradha Rana emerged victorious in the Lahaul-Spiti by-election, defeating independent candidate Ramlal Markanda by 1,960 votes. Anuradha Rana is the first woman in 52 years to contest from Lahaul-Spiti and the second woman ever to win from this constituency. She received 9,414 votes, compared to Markanda’s 7,454 votes, while BJP candidate Ravi Thakur finished third with 3,049 votes.

BJP’s Wins and Defeats

The BJP secured a significant win in Dharamshala, where Sudhir Sharma triumphed by a margin of 5,526 votes. Sharma, a former minister, was a central figure in Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s campaign, who had labeled him the “leader” of the party’s internal rebellion. In Barsar, BJP candidate Indradutt Lakhanpal, a Congress defector, won by a margin of 2,125 votes against Congress’s Subhash Chand. Lakhanpal received 33,088 votes, while Chand secured 30,961 votes.

Losses for Congress Defectors

Despite some wins, several Congress defectors who joined the BJP faced defeats. In Kutlehar, BJP candidate Devendra Bhutto lost to Congress’s Vivek Sharma by a margin of 5,356 votes. Sharma received 36,853 votes, while Bhutto garnered 31,497 votes. This loss further underscores the challenges faced by defectors in gaining acceptance from the electorate.

Background and Implications

These by-elections were necessitated by the resignation of Congress rebels who had supported the BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections on February 27. Following their support for the BJP, these leaders joined the BJP and contested the by-elections under its banner. The BJP’s decision to field these defectors led to internal party dynamics that saw two of its own leaders defect to the Congress and contest as Congress candidates.

The results of these by-elections have significant implications for the political landscape in Himachal Pradesh. The Congress party’s increased strength in the assembly ensures stability for its government, while the defeats of several defectors highlight the electorate’s resistance to political opportunism. The BJP’s mixed results indicate both opportunities and challenges as it navigates internal dynamics and prepares for future electoral battles.

As the dust settles on these by-elections, the focus will shift to how both major parties strategize for the upcoming political contests in the state. The Congress’s success in these by-elections provides a morale boost and a mandate to govern effectively, while the BJP will need to introspect and recalibrate its approach to regain lost ground.

These results serve as a reminder of the complex and ever-evolving nature of political alliances and voter preferences, underscoring the importance of consistent engagement and credibility in the eyes of the electorate.

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