The Bharatiya Janata Party secured victories in three of the four municipal corporation elections held in Himachal Pradesh on May 31. It captured control of Dharamshala, Mandi and Solan, while the Congress party retained Palampur.
In Dharamshala the BJP took 11 of 17 seats, the Congress won five and an independent candidate claimed one. In Mandi the BJP captured 12 of 14 wards and the Congress took one. In Solan the BJP won 10 of 17 seats, the Congress secured six and an independent gained one. The Congress won Palampur by taking 11 of 15 wards, leaving the BJP with four.
Polling for the civic elections took place on May 17. Opposition leader Jairam Thakur welcomed the BJP results, stating that voters had shown their intent to remove the Congress government ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. He accused the state government of delaying the urban polls by citing the Disaster Act and claimed the move was made because officials expected unfavourable outcomes. Thakur noted that court rulings ultimately required the elections to be completed by May 31.
He added that the Congress would struggle to retain power if assembly elections were held immediately. Both parties view the local results as an early indicator before next year’s state polls.
