BJP ends 23-year Congress hold on Shimla Zila Parishad

New Delhi: A year ahead of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, the BJP has wrested control of the Shimla Zila Parishad after 23 years, winning both the chairman and vice-chairman posts on Thursday. The breakthrough in a district considered a Congress stronghold gives the BJP a significant political opening and is likely to add to the Congress government’s concerns over its organisational strength ahead of the polls.

The BJP’s victory in Shimla also takes its control to 11 of Himachal Pradesh’s 12 Zila Parishads, leaving Congress with only Chamba.

Shimla’s political significance goes beyond the Zila Parishad. Seven of the district’s eight Assembly constituencies are represented by Congress MLAs, including three ministers – PWD minister Vikramaditya Singh, rural development minister Anirudh Singh and education minister Rohit Thakur.
The last BJP chairman of the Shimla Zila Parishad was Dolo Ram Hasta, who held the post from 1998 to 2003 during the Prem Kumar Dhumal government. The post subsequently remained with Congress or its allies.

The BJP’s Bhupendra Sisodia defeated Congress candidate Surender Retka 13-10 for the chairman’s post, with two votes rejected. BJP’s B.S. Kalanta won the vice-chairman’s election 14-10, with one vote rejected.