July 13: In a significant political development, the Congress party, led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, secured a resounding victory in the recent Himachal Pradesh assembly bypolls. Out of the six contested seats, Congress emerged victorious in four constituencies, solidifying its position with an absolute majority in the 68-member assembly. This marks a critical achievement for the party, strengthening its foothold in the state and underscoring the leadership of CM Sukhu.
Detailed Results:
- Barsar Assembly Constituency:
- Winner: Indra Dutt Lakhanpal (BJP)
- Votes Received: 33,086
- Runner-Up: Subhash Chand (Congress)
- Votes Received: 30,961
- Victory Margin: 2,125 votes
- Dharamshala Assembly Constituency:
- Winner: Sudhir Sharma (BJP)
- Votes Received: 28,066
- Runner-Up: Devender Jaggi (Congress)
- Votes Received: 22,540
- Third Place: Rakesh Chaudhary (Independent)
- Votes Received: 10,770
- Victory Margin: 5,526 votes
- Gagret Assembly Constituency:
- Winner: Rakesh Kalia (Congress)
- Votes Received: 34,785
- Runner-Up: Chaitanya Sharma (BJP)
- Votes Received: 26,815
- NOTA Votes: 599
- Kutlehar Assembly Constituency:
- Winner: Vivek Sharma (Congress)
- Votes Received: 35,728
- Runner-Up: Devender Bhutto (BJP)
- Votes Received: 30,841
- Victory Margin: 4,887 votes
- Sujanpur Assembly Constituency:
- Winner: Ranjit Singh Rana (Congress)
- Votes Received: 29,529
- Runner-Up: Rajinder Rana (BJP)
- Votes Received: 27,089
- Victory Margin: 2,440 votes
- Lahaul Spiti Assembly Constituency:
- Winner: Anuradha Rana (Congress)
- Votes Received: 9,414
- Runner-Up: Dr. Ramlal Markanda (Independent)
- Votes Received: 7,454
- Third Place: Ravi Thakur (BJP)
- Votes Received: 3,049
- NOTA Votes: 75
- Victory Margin: 1,960 votes
Implications:
The Congress party’s strong performance in these bypolls marks a pivotal moment in Himachal Pradesh’s political landscape. The BJP, despite winning in Barsar and Dharamshala, has faced significant challenges, particularly highlighted by their performance in Lahaul Spiti where they lagged behind both Congress and an independent candidate.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed his satisfaction with the results, attributing the success to the hard work and dedication of the party members and the trust placed in them by the voters. The bypoll victories are seen as a mandate for the Congress’s governance and a reflection of the public’s support for their policies and leadership.
Future Prospects:
With this newfound majority, the Congress party is poised to implement its agenda more effectively and consolidate its governance in Himachal Pradesh. The BJP, on the other hand, will need to reassess its strategies and address the issues that led to their defeat in key constituencies.
The results of these bypolls are expected to have far-reaching impacts on the political dynamics of Himachal Pradesh, setting the stage for future electoral contests and shaping the state’s political discourse.
