SHIMLA: At 29 Jabna Chauhan, an Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Nachan is the youngest woman candidate in fray, while Piyush Kanga (26) is the youngest candidate contesting from Bilaspur as an Independent for the 2022 Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls being held on November 12, 2022.
Jabna is among the contesting 24 meagre tribe of women candidates who are seeking their fortunes in the rough and tumble of state politics dominated by men.
Jabna has hogged national headlines when she became the youngest Sarpanch of the Panchayat at the age 21. She won many awards as she took on the liquor mafia and banned liquor in her panchayat.
She also figured among top leaders and Bollywood stars of the likes of Akhay Kumar, who honored her at the show at Gurgaon and received accolades from the leaders and stars for her leadership.
Jabna is now giving tough time to the BJP and Congress in Nachan.
Himachal Jan Kranti Party's candidate from Bharmour assembly constituency, Ki Pooja (29), Manisha (30) of Aam Aadmi Party fielded for Nurpur assembly seat are other young women candidates who are hogging high lights in these constituencies as younger candidates in poll arena. 
Another younger straight sharp talker is Chaitanya (28) of Congress party, contesting from Gagret in Una district. Chaitanya is being watched keenly by the voters there.
Chaitanya won his election as ward councilor earlier.
Another young candidate is Kishori Lal (31) of CPI (M) from Karsog assembly constituency.
Hogging the headlines is also another younger candidate, Vikramaditya Singh (33) of Congress party seeking re-election from Shimla Rural assembly constituency.
Vikramaditya Singh is the son of the six-time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and PCC President Pratibha Singh.
He also figures among Congress star campaigners. He is facing Ravi Mehta of the BJP, a first timer.
Another young Turk is BJP candidate from Karsog assembly constituency, Deep Raj (34).
All the Parties have almost cold-shouldered women candidates this time as there are just 24 women out of a total of 412 contesting candidates in the poll arena.
There are 28,54,945 male electors and 27,37,845 female and 38 third gender voters in the state.
All the parties talk about giving prime importance to women. But when it comes to share the cake of power, Man-dominated political parties just shy away giving proportionate representation to women in the elections.
There are 388 male candidates contesting for 68 assembly seats, seeking votes from 55,92,828 voters of the state.
There are as many as 99 independents- 21 rebels from BJP and seven from Congress- who are giving sleepless nights to both BJP and Congress leaders.
They are being expelled one by one by the party on the charges of indiscipline by contesting against the party candidates.
All pleas to persuade them out from the contest has failed, but they claim they will show “they were the better choice when the results are out on December 14”.
According to spokesperson of CEO Himachal, as many as 1,93,106 are new voters in the age group of 18-19 years who were added this year.
There are 1,21,409 voters above 80 years, while 56,501 are in Person with Disability(PwD_ category.
Parties have fielded younger candidates and older candidates, but they have ignored PwD voters.
There is no PwD candidate in fray despite PwD vote bank is a sizeable number in Himachal.
Bhartiya Janata Party and Indian National Congress are contesting on all the 68 assembly constituencies.
Aam Aadmi Party is contesting on 67, Bahujan Samajwadi Party on 53, Rashtriya Devbhoomi Party on 29.
Communist Party of India(Marxist) on 11, new comer Himachal Jan Kranti Party on six, Hindu Samaj Party and Swabhiman Party on three seat each.
Himachal Janata Party, Bhartiya Veer Dal, Sainik Samaj Party, Rashtriya Lok Niti Party and Communist Party of India are contesting on one each seat.
Jogindernagar, home segment of the former minister, Gulab Singh Thakur, who is the father-in-law IB and Youth and Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur has a maximum number of 11 candidates in fray.
There are three assembly constituencies – Churah (Chamba), Lahaul-Spiti, and Drang (Mandi district) where there is a triangular fight.
Congress have reposed its faith in its older war horses and have fielded five candidates considering there are over 1,21,709 voters above 80 in the state this time.
On the other hand, BJP has shown door to the oldies and have kept them as “Marg Darshak”, asking them to hang their boots, giving chance to the younger lot.
Among other older candidates after Col. Dhani Ram Shandil are Chandra Kumar (78), Congress candidate from Jawali, Gangu Ram Musafir (77), Independent, a Congress rebel from Pachhad, Kaul Singh Thakur, 76 of Congress from Drang, Thakur Singh Bharmouri (75) of Congress from Bharmour and Kishori Lal (75) of Congress from Baijnath.
