BJP Sweeps Dharamsala and Salooni BDC Polls, Tightens Grip on Himachal’s Grassroots Politics

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has further consolidated its influence in Himachal Pradesh’s local governance system by securing decisive victories in the Block Development Council (BDC) elections held in Dharamsala and Salooni. The party won both the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson posts in the two councils, reinforcing its growing presence at the grassroots level.

BJP Dominates Dharamsala BDC Polls

In Dharamsala, located in Kangra district, BJP candidate Alok Kumar emerged victorious as the new BDC Chairperson after securing 12 votes, defeating Congress nominee Surender Kumar, who managed six votes.

The BJP also captured the Vice-Chairperson position, with Saroj receiving 10 votes against Congress candidate Jai Lalita’s seven votes. One ballot was declared invalid during the vice-chairperson election process.

Reacting to the victory, Dharamsala MLA Sudhir Sharma congratulated the newly elected representatives and credited the result to the BJP’s strong organisational structure and the confidence shown by elected BDC members.

Sharma also criticised the state government, alleging delays in announcing the BDC election schedule and raising concerns over the pending elections for Zila Parishad Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson posts. He stated that the BJP would pursue legal action over the issue, claiming that prolonged delays could weaken the Panchayati Raj system in the state.

BJP Registers Clean Sweep in Salooni BDC

The BJP continued its winning momentum in Salooni block of Chamba district, where party-backed candidates secured both key positions.

Chhaya Devi was elected Chairperson with 12 votes, comfortably defeating Congress candidate Nisha Devi, who received six votes. Meanwhile, Madan Lal won the Vice-Chairperson election with 11 votes, while Congress nominee Tilak Raj secured seven votes. One vote in each contest was declared invalid.

The election results sparked celebrations among BJP supporters outside the Block office, with Dalhousie MLA DS Thakur joining party workers in marking the victory.

Speaking on the occasion, Thakur described the results as a reflection of the BJP’s strong organisational network and dedicated cadre base. He expressed optimism that the newly elected Panchayat Samiti leadership would speed up development initiatives and strengthen local governance in the Salooni region.

Read Also : Shimla Deploys 30-Member NDRF Team for Monsoon Preparedness Amid Rising Disaster Risks