Shimla Himachal Pradesh Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Voting date, results, candidates, main parties and schedule 

Himachal Pradesh Lok Sabha Election 2024 - Prime Minister Narendar Modi waves to supporters during ‘Vijay Sankalp Rally’ (photo- PTI)

Established as the summer capital of British India in 1864, Shimla now stands as the capital of Himachal Pradesh, relying predominantly on its tourism industry for economic sustenance. The Shimla Lok Sabha constituency, spanning three districts—Shimla, Sirmaur, and Solan—comprises 17 Vidhan Sabha seats. Since its inception in 1967, this parliamentary seat has been reserved for candidates from the Scheduled Castes community.

Initially, the Congress party held sway over this constituency. Pratap Singh secured victories in both the 1967 and 1971 elections. However, a political shift occurred in 1977 when Balak Ram, the candidate from the Indian Lok Dal, emerged victorious. Nonetheless, the Congress regained control in 1980, with Krishna Datt Sultanpuri securing consecutive wins in the elections spanning from 1980 to 1998.

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In a notable deviation from the Congress's dominance, Dhani Ram Shandil, representing the Himachal Vikas Congress, triumphed in the 1999 election. Though he later contested and won the 2004 election under the Congress banner, his defeat in 2009 marked a significant milestone—the BJP claimed its first victory in the Shimla Lok Sabha constituency, with Virender Kashyap as their candidate.

Virender Kashyap solidified his position by retaining the seat in the 2014 election, where he defeated Mohan Lal of the Congress. The 2019 election reaffirmed the BJP's stronghold in the constituency, with Suresh Kumar Kashyap clinching victory with an impressive 6,06,183 votes. In contrast, Dhani Ram Shandil of the Congress secured 2,78,668 votes, positioning him as the runner-up.

This electoral journey reflects the evolving political landscape of Shimla, marked by a transition from Congress dominance to the BJP's emergence as a formidable force. Despite occasional shifts, the constituency's allegiance has largely leaned towards the BJP in recent years, underlining the party's growing influence in the region.

Key candidates:

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