Himachal Pradesh News
Congress Ends BJP’s 30-Year Dominance in Dehra Municipal Council Polls, Wins 5 of 7 Wards
In a major political development in Himachal Pradesh, the Congress party has ended the Bharatiya Janata Party’s three-decade dominance in the Dehra Municipal Council elections. The result marks a significant shift in the political landscape of Kangra district, with Congress winning five out of seven wards and limiting the BJP to just two seats.
In a major political development in Himachal Pradesh, the Congress party has ended the Bharatiya Janata Party’s three-decade dominance in the Dehra Municipal Council elections. The result marks a significant shift in the political landscape of Kangra district, with Congress winning five out of seven wards and limiting the BJP to just two seats.
The victory is being viewed as a strong boost for local MLA Kamlesh Thakur, wife of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who had actively campaigned and pushed multiple development projects in the constituency over the past few months. Political observers believe the outcome reflects changing voter sentiment and growing support for Congress at the grassroots level.
Dehra, which was upgraded from a Nagar Panchayat to a Municipal Council in 2013, had long been considered a BJP stronghold. In the previous civic elections, the BJP had secured all seats, making this year’s result one of the biggest political turnarounds in the region in recent years.
The municipal elections also witnessed an impressive voter turnout. According to official figures, 74.55 percent voting was recorded, with 2,664 voters participating out of 3,573 registered voters. Women voters showed remarkable enthusiasm, recording a turnout of 75.32 percent, slightly higher than the male turnout of 74.08 percent.
The polling process remained peaceful across all seven wards due to tight security arrangements and continuous police patrolling.
Ward-Wise Results
Congress candidates delivered strong performances across the municipality. Nishtha Chambiyal won Ward No. 1 with a lead of 294 votes, while Naresh Kumar secured Ward No. 3 by 251 votes. Upasana Sood registered victory in Ward No. 4 with a margin of 172 votes, and Kiran Devi won Ward No. 5 by 156 votes. Kiran Sharma also emerged victorious in Ward No. 7 with a lead of 189 votes.
On the BJP side, Malkiyat Singh Parmar won Ward No. 2 by 175 votes, while Paras secured Ward No. 6 with a margin of 130 votes.
Following the results, political activity has intensified in Dehra as lobbying for the Municipal Council President’s post gains momentum. With Congress now in a commanding position, expectations of faster development and stronger local governance have increased among residents.
The Dehra Municipal Council election result is not just a civic poll outcome but a clear political message ahead of future elections in Himachal Pradesh. The Congress victory has reshaped the political narrative in the region and could influence upcoming electoral battles across Kangra district.
