Congress Stuck in Tight Spot with By-Elections in Six Assembly Constituencies Alongside Lok Sabha Polls in Himachal

Congress in Himachal Pradesh is facing a new challenge with by-elections in six assembly constituencies alongside the Lok Sabha polls. With the battle for four parliamentary seats already underway, the party now needs to search for candidates for six assembly constituencies. The possibility of any current MLAs contesting the Lok Sabha elections has now completely vanished. To save the government in the state, strong leaders from the second line will have to be brought into the election arena in six rebellious constituencies.

Congress is now faced with the challenge of selecting candidates for by-elections in Dharamshala, Sujanpur, Badsar, Gagret, Kutlehar, and Lahaul-Spiti assembly constituencies. The party was not aware that it would have to face by-elections so soon amidst the recent political crisis. All eyes were fixed on the hearing in the Supreme Court on March 18. However, the Election Commission announced the by-elections on Saturday.

To win the Lok Sabha elections, Congress, now faced with a changed situation, will have to prepare a new strategy. In Sujanpur, Congress rebel Rajendra Rana is a three-time MLA. He won as an independent candidate in 2012. He was declared victorious on Congress ticket in 2017 and 2022. There is no big name among the second line of Congress leaders in the Sujanpur assembly constituency. Congress will have to select candidates for by-elections while paying attention to every aspect.

In Dharamshala, Devendra Jaggie, Karan Indra Singh, in Lahaul-Spiti, Funchook Rai, Raghuvir Singh, in Gagret, Kuldeep Kumar, in Kutlehar, Vivek Sharma, and in Badsar, Manjeet Dogra, Naresh Lakhanpal, are likely leaders that Congress can bring forward. The names of Amit Nanda, Sohan Lal, Dayal Pyari from Shimla, Asha Kumari, Sanjay Chauhan, Karan Pataniya from Kangra, Satpal Rajwada, Dhamendra Patial, and from Mandi, Pratibha Singh, and Kaul Singh Thakur, are being discussed for Lok Sabha elections. The visit of Chief Minister Sukhwindar Singh Sukhu and Pradesh President Pratibha Singh to Delhi next week was proposed to finalize the Lok Sabha candidates, but now this visit could be postponed for a few days due to the by-elections.

These developments indicate a significant political shift in Himachal Pradesh, with the Congress party having to recalibrate its strategies to navigate the electoral landscape effectively.