SHIMLA/MANDI/DHARAMSHALA: Himachal Pradesh's urban political battle entered a decisive phase on Monday with the Congress capturing the Municipal Corporation (MC) in Palampur, while the BJP tightened its grip over the Mandi Municipal Corporation by electing its Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
With these contests settled, the political spotlight has now shifted to the crucial mayoral elections in Dharamshala and Solan, scheduled for July 1, where the prestige of senior BJP leaders will be on the line.
The twin victories have set the stage for an intense political showdown, with both the Congress and the BJP seeking to establish dominance in urban local bodies after the municipal elections.
Congress Sweeps Palampur Leadership
Nearly a month after the municipal election results were declared on May 31, Palampur finally got its new civic body in place. Congress councillors unanimously elected Radha Sood as Mayor and Neelam Malik as Deputy Mayor.
The swearing-in ceremony was conducted by Additional Deputy Commissioner Vinay Kumar, who administered the oath of office and secrecy to all 15 newly elected councillors.
The Congress had secured a comfortable majority by winning 11 of the 15 wards, ensuring a smooth election of its candidates to the top civic posts.
Congratulating the newly elected representatives, local MLA Ashish Butail said the new team should work in close coordination to accelerate Palampur's development while ensuring transparency, cleanliness and people-centric governance.
BJP Consolidates Hold Over Mandi
In Mandi, after days of political suspense and internal deliberations, the BJP elected Suman Thakur as Mayor, who enjoys support of Jai Ram Thakur, former CM and leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha and Jitender Sharma alias Johnny as Deputy Mayor unanimously.
Only one nomination was filed for each post, following which Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Apoorv Devgan declared both candidates elected unopposed.
Suman Thakur, a former Nagar Parishad president and three-time councillor, had long been considered the frontrunner for the Mayor's post.
Her name was competing with Jitender Sharma and Gagan Kashyap before the BJP leadership finally sealed the decision.
Before the election, the Deputy Commissioner administered the oath of office and secrecy to councillors from all 14 wards, while Municipal Commissioner Rohit Rathore conducted the proceedings.
Dharamshala and Solan Next Political Battlegrounds
With Palampur and Mandi settled, all political attention is now focused on Dharamshala and Solan, where the elections for Mayor and Deputy Mayor are scheduled for July 1.
The stakes are particularly high for senior BJP leader Dr. Rajeev Bindal in Solan, where the outcome will be seen as a test of his political influence in his home district.
Similarly, in Dharamshala, the mayoral election has become a prestige battle for BJP MLA Sudhir Sharma, who is keen to ensure the party retains control over the civic body. The result will also be viewed as a key indicator of his organisational strength after returning to the BJP.
Political observers believe the outcomes in Dharamshala and Solan will complete the picture of urban political dominance in Himachal Pradesh and provide an early indication of the momentum both parties carry into future electoral battles.
With Congress securing Palampur and BJP retaining Mandi, Tuesday's contests are expected to witness intense political maneuvering as both parties fight for the remaining prestigious municipal corporations.
