Congress has historically held a strong presence in Himachal Pradesh, particularly in the early years after its formation. Yashwant Singh Parmar was the first Chief Minister of the state and is often referred to as the "Architect of Himachal Pradesh."
The party has focused on issues such as rural development, social welfare, and the empowerment of marginalized communities in its political campaigns.
Political Alternation in State Elections
On the other hand, the BJP has emerged as a formidable political force in Himachal Pradesh over the years. The party has capitalized on issues such as development, good governance, and national security to garner support among the electorate. As a result, Himachal Pradesh has a history of alternating between Congress and BJP governments in state elections. Shanta Kumar of the BJP served as the chief minister of Himachal Pradesh from 1977 to 1980 and then again from 1990 to 1992, followed by Virbhadra Singh of the Congress who held the office several times from 1983 to 2017.
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Himachal is the only state in northern India where the Congress is currently in power on its own. The Congress defeated the BJP by a wide margin in the 2022 Assembly elections, winning 40 of the 68 seats, selecting Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu as the chief minister.
Lok Sabha Elections In Himachal
However, Lok Sabha elections are a different story. The state has four parliamentary constituencies, of which one is reserved for the SC candidates, while the rest are unreserved. In 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP secured a clean sweep in the state, winning all four seats in Himachal.
Prominent BJP candidates for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Himachal include sitting MP and Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur from Hamirpur, state vice-president Rajeev Bhardwaj from Kangra, and actress Kangana Ranaut from Mandi. The Congress party is yet to announce its list.Voting for all four parliamentary constituencies in the state along with the Assembly by-elections will be held on June 1, while the counting of votes is scheduled for June 4.
Also check: Live updates 2024 Lok Sabha election.
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