Independent Legislators' Gamble Backfires in Himachal Pradesh Bypolls

In Himachal Pradesh's assembly bypolls, two former Independent legislators who switched to the BJP faced defeat to Congress candidates. Kamlesh Thakur, wife of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, won the Dehra seat. Hardeep Singh Bawa clinched Nalagarh, but BJP’s Ashish Sharma succeeded in Hamirpur. Notably, the state assembly will now lack Independent MLAs.

In a significant political development, Himachal Pradesh's assembly bypolls saw two ex-Independent legislators, now with the BJP, lose to Congress candidates. Kamlesh Thakur, wife of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, secured a victory in the Dehra constituency, defeating BJP’s Hoshiyar Singh by a margin of 9,399 votes.

Hardeep Singh Bawa, a prominent figure and five-time Indian National Trade Union Congress president, defeated BJP's K L Thakur in Nalagarh by 8,990 votes. Meanwhile, the BJP's Ashish Sharma managed to retain the Hamirpur seat, winning by 1,571 votes over Congress candidate Pushpinder Verma.

This bypoll marks the first time in Himachal Pradesh's history that both Chief Minister Sukhu and his wife will be Assembly members. Additionally, the results indicate that there will be no Independent MLAs in the state assembly for the first time. Celebrations ensued at the chief minister’s official residence as the Congress party regained its legislative strength in the state.