Himachal Pradesh News
Himachal MC Polls 2026: Over 69% Voting Recorded Across 51 Urban Local Bodies, Hamirpur Leads Turnout
The civic elections held across Himachal Pradesh on Sunday witnessed enthusiastic voter participation, with the state recording an overall voter turnout of 69.16 percent in 51 urban local bodies (ULBs), including four Municipal Corporations.
The civic elections held across Himachal Pradesh on Sunday witnessed enthusiastic voter participation, with the state recording an overall voter turnout of 69.16 percent in 51 urban local bodies (ULBs), including four Municipal Corporations.
According to the State Election Commission, polling remained peaceful across the state and no major untoward incident was reported during the voting process. The elections covered municipal corporations, municipal councils, and nagar panchayats, reflecting strong public engagement in local governance.
Hamirpur district emerged as the top-performing district in terms of voter participation, recording nearly 78 percent turnout. On the other hand, Solan district registered the lowest turnout at around 64 percent. Among all urban local bodies, Shri Naina Devi Ji recorded the highest voter turnout at an impressive 86 percent.
Municipal Councils See Higher Voting Than Municipal Corporations
The elections highlighted a noticeable difference in voting trends between smaller urban bodies and larger municipal corporations. Municipal councils and nagar panchayats recorded a combined voter turnout of 72.42 percent, significantly higher than the 63.44 percent turnout registered in the four Municipal Corporations.
Among the Municipal Corporations, Mandi recorded the highest voter turnout at 68.78 percent, while Solan Municipal Corporation reported the lowest turnout at 58.32 percent.
A total of 1,147 candidates contested for 449 wards across the 51 urban local bodies. However, elections were not conducted in 10 wards where candidates had already been elected unanimously. Additionally, no nomination was filed for Ward No. 7 of Karsog Nagar Panchayat in Mandi district. In another development, all four candidates withdrew their nominations from Ward No. 14 of the Mandi Municipal Corporation.
Election Official Suspended Over Symbol Allotment Irregularities
In a significant administrative action during the election process, Shimla District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap suspended Assistant Returning Officer Rajneesh Chauhan with immediate effect over alleged irregularities in the allocation of election symbols.
The action was taken after complaints and an inquiry related to the Dalgaon gram panchayat under the Rohru development block. Authorities found that election symbols were allegedly not allotted according to the guidelines issued by the State Election Commission.
Rajneesh Chauhan, currently posted as Group Instructor at the Government Industrial Training Institute in Samarkot, Rohru, had been appointed as Assistant Returning Officer for the panchayat on May 6. He was responsible for allotting election symbols to candidates on May 15 after the withdrawal of nominations.
Officials stated that the prescribed process under Rule 42 of the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (Election) Rules, 1994, requires election symbols to be allotted according to Hindi alphabetical order and serial numbers notified by the Election Commission.
The inquiry reportedly found procedural violations in the symbol distribution process, which authorities described as a serious lapse and negligence of duty. The administration said the irregularities affected the smooth functioning of the election process and disrupted the administrative system.
Peaceful Polling Boosts Confidence in Local Democracy
Despite isolated administrative issues, the overall conduct of the Himachal Pradesh civic elections remained peaceful and orderly. The strong voter turnout indicates growing public participation in urban local governance and reflects the importance voters are placing on local development and civic administration.
The election results are now expected to shape the political landscape of urban Himachal Pradesh in the coming years, especially in key municipal corporations and rapidly developing urban regions.
