Himachal Pradesh Lok Sabha elections 2024: A look at key parties and contests

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.

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.