The Congress occasion returned to energy within the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) after a niche of 10 years, handing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a complete defeat within the elections to one of many oldest civic our bodies within the nation. Results for which have been declared on Thursday.

In the 34-member home, Congress romped dwelling with 24 seats, securing an absolute majority. BJP, the occasion’s key rival, may safe solely 9 seats, eight lower than its tally of 17 within the earlier election.

The CPI(M) secured a win from the Summer Hill Ward, the stronghold of the left occasion for many years. Virender Thakur, who defeated his nearest rival Jagdish Thakur by 78 votes, would be the lone occasion councilor within the civic physique. The occasion had fielded solely 4 candidates on this election.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which had fielded its candidates from 21 wards scored a duck, although managed to place a dent on the BJP’s possibilities throughout some wards.

The SMC election was additionally the primary take a look at for chief minister (CM) Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s reputation after he was chosen to steer the state almost 5 months in the past, one which he handed with flying colors.

While BJP misplaced the plot amid infighting and ticket distribution, the result’s the reflection of help the Congress-led state authorities acquired from authorities workers.

BJP had changed its state occasion chief Suresh Kashyap with Rajeev Bindal amid electioneering. The occasion contested the MC elections underneath the management of Suresh Kashyap, with occasion bigwigs additionally campaigning within the capital. Information and broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur held highway reveals, whereas former chief minister Jai Ram Thakur himself held conferences throughout totally different wards just for all of it to return to a naught.

Women steal the present

Women candidates outshone their male counterparts, profitable as many as 21 of the 34 wards. Among the heavyweights, the previous mayor and BJP candidate Satya Kaundal misplaced from Sanjauli ward to Congress’ Mamata Chandel by a margin of 196 votes.

Among the heavyweights, the previous mayor and BJP candidate Satya Kaundal misplaced from Sanjauli ward to Congress’ Mamata Chandel by a margin of 196 votes. Another former mayor Sohan Lal, who rebelled towards Congress and contested as an unbiased, misplaced from Krishnanagar ward. Congress’ Shimla (Urban) block president, in the meantime, misplaced from Bharari Ward.

The polling for SMC was held on May 2 after being delayed by one yr because of a petition within the High Court difficult the delimitation of wards.

The earlier BJP authorities had elevated the variety of wards in SMC from 34 to 41, a call that was overturned by Congress after coming to energy within the state paving approach for the civic physique elections.

In the 2017 elections, the BJP gained the SMC for the primary time, since 1986 when the primary election to the civic physique was held. The saffron occasion had gained 17 out of 34 seats and fashioned the Municipal Corporation.

The CPI(M) had gained the mayor’s and deputy mayor’s posts in 2012 within the first and solely direct election to the highest posts.

Dubbing it a “historic” win, Sukhu mentioned, “Congress won 24 seats for the first time in municipal corporation. It is a mandate for the state’s governance. The outcome is sure to have a bearing on the future elections since the polls were held on the party symbols.”

Conceding defeat, former CM Jai Ram mentioned, “BJP accepts and respects the mandate given by the people of the capital town.” He, nevertheless, was fast to allege misuse of official equipment.

Delighted over the Congress’ spectacular victory in Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC), the state occasion chief Pratibha Singh expressed gratitude to the voters for reposing religion within the Grand Old Party.

Crediting the victory to the occasion employees, Pratibha mentioned she was grateful to them for the dedication and sincerity with which they’ve carried out their duties. She additionally expressed gratitude to all of the occasion leaders together with AICC Himachal in-charge Rajeev Shukla, co-incharge Tajendra Pal Singh Bittu, chief minister (CM) Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri for main the occasion to a victory within the civic polls. bodypolls.

“The hard work of workers after winning the assembly elections has paid off and the Congress party has registered a victory in SMC and by-election to Palampur Municipal Corporation,” she mentioned.

Sukhu mentioned the mandate was additionally a stamp of approval on the pro-people determination taken by the Congress authorities.

“This victory comes with a huge responsibility,” he mentioned, including that good administration is critical for good governance. “The government is finding out new resources and in the next four years the economy of the state would be back on track while in 10 years, Himachal would be a most prosperous state in the country,” the CM mentioned. He reiterated the occasion’s dedication to develop Shimla. “Along with widening the circular road of the city, appropriate steps are being taken to provide clean drinking water to the public,” he mentioned.

Former CM and BJP chief Jai Ram Thakur, whereas accepting the folks’s mandate, accused the federal government of misusing the official equipment to affect the voter “The results were not as per expectations, but the BJP accepts and respects the mandate given by the people of the capital town,” he mentioned.