Himachal Election Result 2022: Congress wrests hill state from BJP - Winners, Losers, Highlights, Party-Wise Seats
Himachal Pradesh Election Result 2022: The Congress on Thursday wrested Himachal Pradesh from the BJP as it crossed the majority mark of 35 seats in the 68-member Assembly in the hill state which maintained its tradition of not voting any incumbent government to power since 1985. In the latest results and trends available, the Congress won 39 seats and was leading in 1, while BJP registered a win on 18 seats and was leading in seven others.
Three Independents also emerged victorious.
Aam Aadmi Party, which had contested on 67 seats, failed to open its account.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi thanked the people of Himachal Pradesh for the "decisive win" of his party and assured them that every promise made by the party will be fulfilled.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said he respects the mandate of the people and submitted his resignation to the governor.
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has accepted his resignation, official sources said.
"We will give constructive support rising above partisan politics but where we feel interests of the state have not been protected, we will raise the issues before people," Thakur said and expressed the hope that the new government will fulfil its promises.
The BJP gave the slogan of "Raj nahin, riwaaj badlega", which translates to "the convention will change, not the government", but failed to buck the trend. Himachal Pradesh has not voted any incumbent government to power since 1985.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked voters of the hill state for their affection and support to the BJP and said his party will keep working to fulfil the aspirations of the state and raise people's issues.
The Congress had promised to bring back the old pension scheme and provide jobs to the youth among other things in its campaign in the hill state Jai Ram Thakur was leading over his nearest Congress rival from the former's Seraj seat in Mandi district. However, many of his ministers including Suresh Bhardwaj, Ram Lal Markanda and Surveen Chaudhary lost the election.
Former Union minister Sukh Ram's son Anil Sharma of the BJP retained his Mandi Sadar seat defeating his rival from the Congress.
BJP candidate D S Thakur defeated six-time Congress MLA Asha Kumari in Dalhousie assembly seat by a margin of 9,918 votes. Asha Kumari was among the chief ministerial probables.
Hoshiyar Singh from Dehra and K L Thakur from Nalagarh are among the three Independents who won.
Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh's son and sitting Congress MLA from Shimla (Rural) Vikramaditya Singh retained his seat by defeating his nearest rival Ravi Kumar Mehta of the BJP by 13,860 votes.
The counting of votes for the 68-member assembly began at 8 am.
For the Congress, a victory in Himachal Pradesh is much needed for a revival as it has been battered by a spate of electoral losses in the last few years.
The Congress has convened a meeting of all its newly-elected MLAs in Himachal Pradesh in Chandigarh after the declaration of results on Thursday, and the meet was likely to pass a resolution authorising the Congress president to elect the CLP leader.
AICC in charge of Himachal Pradesh Rajeev Shukla said the party was happy that it is getting an opportunity to form the government in the state and asserted that it will do everything to fulfil the 10 guarantees made to the people of the state and would provide better governance to people.
Shukla said Priyanka Gandhi took the reins of the campaign in her hands and lauded her contribution. He also thanked Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and general secretary organisation K C Venugopal for their cooperation in poll preparations.
He said Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra had also had an indirect impact on the elections and among the people.
While Shukla is AICC in charge of Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel was appointed senior observer for the polls.
About 76.44 per cent of voters had exercised their franchise on November 12. Altogether, 412 candidates, including 24 women and 99 independents, are in the fray.
The BJP and the Congress contested on all 68 constituencies, while the AAP fielded candidates on 67 seats, the Bahujan Samaj Party on 53 and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on 11 seats.
In 2017, the BJP won 44 seats, the Congress 21 and the CPIM gained one. Two Independent candidates, too, had won.
The main opposition party had raised issues of price rise, unemployment, and the old pension scheme, among others.
The BJP's campaign in Himachal saw a special focus on women and youth, with the party rolling out a standalone manifesto for women for the first time in the state's history.
Himachal Pradesh Election Result 2022: The Congress on Thursday wrested Himachal Pradesh from the BJP as it crossed the majority mark of 35 seats in the 68-member Assembly in the hill state which maintained its tradition of not voting any incumbent government to power since 1985. In the latest results and trends available, the Congress won 39 seats and was leading in 1, while BJP registered a win on 18 seats and was leading in seven others.
Three Independents also emerged victorious.
Aam Aadmi Party, which had contested on 67 seats, failed to open its account.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi thanked the people of Himachal Pradesh for the "decisive win" of his party and assured them that every promise made by the party will be fulfilled.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said he respects the mandate of the people and submitted his resignation to the governor.
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has accepted his resignation, official sources said.
"We will give constructive support rising above partisan politics but where we feel interests of the state have not been protected, we will raise the issues before people," Thakur said and expressed the hope that the new government will fulfil its promises.
The BJP gave the slogan of "Raj nahin, riwaaj badlega", which translates to "the convention will change, not the government", but failed to buck the trend. Himachal Pradesh has not voted any incumbent government to power since 1985.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked voters of the hill state for their affection and support to the BJP and said his party will keep working to fulfil the aspirations of the state and raise people's issues.
The Congress had promised to bring back the old pension scheme and provide jobs to the youth among other things in its campaign in the hill state Jai Ram Thakur was leading over his nearest Congress rival from the former's Seraj seat in Mandi district. However, many of his ministers including Suresh Bhardwaj, Ram Lal Markanda and Surveen Chaudhary lost the election.
Former Union minister Sukh Ram's son Anil Sharma of the BJP retained his Mandi Sadar seat defeating his rival from the Congress.
BJP candidate D S Thakur defeated six-time Congress MLA Asha Kumari in Dalhousie assembly seat by a margin of 9,918 votes. Asha Kumari was among the chief ministerial probables.
Hoshiyar Singh from Dehra and K L Thakur from Nalagarh are among the three Independents who won.
Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh's son and sitting Congress MLA from Shimla (Rural) Vikramaditya Singh retained his seat by defeating his nearest rival Ravi Kumar Mehta of the BJP by 13,860 votes.
The counting of votes for the 68-member assembly began at 8 am.
For the Congress, a victory in Himachal Pradesh is much needed for a revival as it has been battered by a spate of electoral losses in the last few years.
The Congress has convened a meeting of all its newly-elected MLAs in Himachal Pradesh in Chandigarh after the declaration of results on Thursday, and the meet was likely to pass a resolution authorising the Congress president to elect the CLP leader.
AICC in charge of Himachal Pradesh Rajeev Shukla said the party was happy that it is getting an opportunity to form the government in the state and asserted that it will do everything to fulfil the 10 guarantees made to the people of the state and would provide better governance to people.
Shukla said Priyanka Gandhi took the reins of the campaign in her hands and lauded her contribution. He also thanked Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and general secretary organisation K C Venugopal for their cooperation in poll preparations.
He said Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra had also had an indirect impact on the elections and among the people.
While Shukla is AICC in charge of Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel was appointed senior observer for the polls.
About 76.44 per cent of voters had exercised their franchise on November 12. Altogether, 412 candidates, including 24 women and 99 independents, are in the fray.
The BJP and the Congress contested on all 68 constituencies, while the AAP fielded candidates on 67 seats, the Bahujan Samaj Party on 53 and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on 11 seats.
In 2017, the BJP won 44 seats, the Congress 21 and the CPIM gained one. Two Independent candidates, too, had won.
The main opposition party had raised issues of price rise, unemployment, and the old pension scheme, among others.
The BJP's campaign in Himachal saw a special focus on women and youth, with the party rolling out a standalone manifesto for women for the first time in the state's history.
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Congress leaders credit Priyanka Gandhi's campaign, strategising for Himachal win
With the Congress headed for a win in Himachal Pradesh, its leaders on Thursday credited party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's campaign in the hill state for the good showing of the party in the assembly polls.
Priyanka Gandhi led the party's charge in Himachal Pradesh with several rallies and was also closely involved in strategising for the polls.
Many leaders hailed her leadership in securing a win for the party and defeating the BJP's mammoth election machinery.
All India Congress Committee (AICC) in charge of Himachal Pradesh Rajeev Shukla hailed Priyanka Gandhi's campaign and leadership, lauding the "hard work" put in by her.
Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma also complimented Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for her "spirited" campaign in the state.
This is Priyanka Gandhi's first electoral success while heading the campaign charge. The party had lost Uttar Pradesh assembly polls while she spearheaded the canvassing in the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls earlier this year.
Party sources said the team of Priyanka Gandhi and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who was the senior observer for the polls, played an important role in formulating the election campaign.
Based on the feedback, a systematic election campaign was prepared under the leadership of Priyanka Gandhi that involved pledges for women, youth, employees, the sources said.
During her rallies in Sirmour, Kangra, Solan and Una, Priyanka Gandhi raised the issues of Agnipath, inflation, unemployment and the old pension scheme, and that won over the people's confidence, the Congress leaders claimed.
HP minister Sarveen Chaudhary loses from Shahpur
Himachal Pradesh minister Sarveen Chaudhary lost from the Shahpur seat in Kangra.
She was defeated by Congress candidate Kewal Singh Pathania by a margin of 12,243 votes.
The BJP had brought Vijay Singh Mankotia into the fold to brighten Chaudhary's winning prospects, but anti-incumbency still took a toll on the party.
The Congress, which has won 11 seats and is leading on 28 seats, is heading towards a clear majority, whereas BJP has won 10 seats and is leading on 16 seats.
HP minister Sarveen Chaudhary loses from Shahpur
Himachal Pradesh minister Sarveen Chaudhary lost from the Shahpur seat in Kangra.
She was defeated by Congress candidate Kewal Singh Pathania by a margin of 12,243 votes.
The BJP had brought Vijay Singh Mankotia into the fold to brighten Chaudhary's winning prospects, but anti-incumbency still took a toll on the party.
The Congress, which has won 11 seats and is leading on 28 seats, is heading towards a clear majority, whereas BJP has won 10 seats and is leading on 16 seats.
Four-time MLA, Congress leader Mukesh Agnihotri leading in Haroli
Four-time MLA and Congress leader Mukesh Agnihotri has a lead of over 6,800 votes over his nearest BJP rival Ram Kumar in Himachal Pradesh's Haroli constituency, according to the Election Commission.
The leader of opposition in the state assembly has defeated Kumar in the last two assembly polls in the state.
Haroli in Himachal Pradesh's Una district is a key constituency, particularly for the Congress that has been scoring wins from here despite the BJP's sway and is aiming at regaining power in the hill state.
Journalist-turned-politician Agnihotri is contesting for the fifth time, after winning four times in a row.
It is a triangular contest in Haroli among the Congress, the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party, which has fielded Ravinder Pal Singh Mann, a new entrant in the state elections. Naresh Kumar (BSP) and Ashwani Kumar Rana (Rashtriya Devbhui Party) are also in the fray from the seat.
Across large swathes of the constituency which borders Punjab, Agnihotri's supporters are clamouring for their leader to be made the chief ministerial candidate of the Congress in case the party wins.
Though Haroli borders Punjab, the AAP has not been able to make a mark in the constituency.
BJP's Kumar, a former teacher, has sought votes claiming that he remained among the people of Haroli despite losing elections and helped them in their time of need and has urged voters to give him a chance once.
The ruling BJP in the state out to beat the historical trend of anti-incumbency in the state by repeating its government.
HP polls: BJP's Ranbir Singh wins Nurpur seat
BJP candidate Ranbir Singh defeated Congress' Ajay Mahajan by a margin of 18,752 votes to win the Nurpur seat in Himachal Pradesh, according to the Election Commission.
The contest for Nurpur was keenly watched as Minister Rakesh Pathania, who has won three times from the seat, was shifted to Fatehpur as the BJP candidate.
HP polls: Congress wins Shimla (Urban) seat
Congress' Harish Janartha won the Shimla (Urban) assembly seat on Thursday, beating his nearest BJP rival Sanjay Sood by a margin of 3,037 votes, according to the Election Commission.
Both Janartha, a former deputy mayor of the Shimla Municipal Corporation, and Sood had contested elections for the first time.
The BJP fielded Sood from Shimla Urban after its sitting MLA Suresh Bhardwaj was shifted to Kasumpti.
The counting of votes for the polls held on November 12 is underway and the BJP has won three seats, while the Congress has bagged one so far. Both parties are leading on 23 seats each and Independents are ahead on three seats.
HP polls: Former Union minister late Sukh Ram's son Anil Sharma retains Mandi Sadar seat for BJP
Former Union minister late Sukh Ram's son Anil Sharma retained the Mandi Sadar seat for the BJP by defeating his nearest Congress rival.
Sharma beat Champa Thakur by a margin of more than 10,000 votes, according to the Election Commission.
BJP's Sukh Ram Chaudhary retains Poanta Sahib seat
BJP candidate and sitting minister Sukh Ram Chaudhary on Thursday retained the Poanta Sahib Assembly seat in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur by defeating his Congress rival.
He defeated Congress candidate Kirnesh Jung by a margin of 8,596 votes.
There were nine candidates in the fray from this seat.
So far the BJP has won four seats and is leading in 21 seats, while the Congress has won two and is leading in 38 out of the 68 seats. Independents are ahead in three seats.
HP polls: Congress' Neeraj Nayar wins from Chamba
Congress candidate Neeraj Nayar on Thursday won from the Chamba seat by defeating his BJP rival, according to the Election Commission.
He defeated Neelam Nayar of the BJP by a margin of 7,782 votes.
HP polls: Independent candidate Ashish Sharma wins from Hamirpur
Independent candidate Ashish Sharma on Thursday won from the Hamirpur assembly seat by defeating his Congress rival.
Sharma defeated Congress candidate Pushpinder Verma by a margin of 12,899 votes.
HP polls: Independent candidate Hoshiyar Singh wins from Dehra
Independent candidate Hoshiyar Singh won the Dehra assembly seat, defeating his Congress rivals by more than 3,500 votes in the Himachal Pradesh poll results announce Thursday.
Singh defeated Rajesh Sharma by a margin of 3,877 votes.
Singh, an Independent MLA, had joined the BJP just before the November 12 assembly polls in the state, but he was denied the ticket.
HP polls: Minister Ram Lal Markanda loses from Lahaul and Spiti
Himachal Pradesh Minister Ram Lal Markanda on Thursday lost from Lahaul and Spiti assembly seat to his nearest Congress rival Ravi Thakur by a margin of 1,616 votes, according to the Election Commission.
The counting of votes for the Himachal Pradesh assembly polls held on November 12 is underway.
According to initial trends, the Congress has surged ahead of the BJP on 39 of the total 68 seats.
The Congress has bagged one seat, while the BJP has won four seats and is ahead in 21 constituencies, EC data showed.
Need to protect Himachal Pradesh Cong MLAs from 'poaching' bid: Bhupesh Baghel
As the Assembly poll trends showed the Congress was likely to get a majority in Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday said the party needed to protect its MLAs in the hill state from any possibility of horse-trading. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) can "go to any level", he claimed.
The Congress surged ahead of the BJP on 39 of the 68 seats with one seat already under its belt, while the ruling party has won four seats and was ahead in 21 constituencies, as per trends from Himachal Pradesh where the counting of votes was underway.
Baghel, who was appointed as senior observer by the Congress for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls, denied speculation that the newly elected party MLAs from Himachal Pradesh will be shifted to Chhattisgarh.
HP minister Suresh Bhardwaj loses from Kasumpti
Himachal Pradesh minister Suresh Bhardwaj lost from the Kasumpti seat on Thursday, defeated by sitting Congress MLA Anirudh Singh.
The victory margin for Anirudh Singh was 8,655 votes.
Bhardwaj was shifted to Kasumpti from Shimla (Urban) constituency.
Bhardwaj represented the Shimla (Urban) constituency in the outgoing assembly.
Congress to hold meeting of newly-elected Himachal MLAs in Chandigarh
The Congress has convened a meeting of all its newly-elected MLAs in Himachal Pradesh in Chandigarh after the declaration of results on Thursday, and the meet was likely to pass a resolution authorising the Congress president to elect the CLP leader.