A voting percentage of 55.30 was recorded in the byelection to the Dehra Assembly constituency in Himachal Pradesh as of 3 pm on Wednesday (July 10, 2024), a high-stakes seat where Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s wife Kamlesh Thakur is pitted from the Congress against two-term former Independent MLA Hoshyar Singh, who is seeking re-election on the BJP ticket.
Of the three seats where byelections are to be held, the highest voting percentage by 3 pm was recorded at 63.70 per cent in Nalagarh. In Hamirpur, the count stood at 56.96 per cent.
The enthusiasm among voters has been notably high, with Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu urging residents of Dehra, Nalagarh and Hamirpur to participate actively in the democratic process.
In Hamirpur, BJP candidate Ashish Sharma, accompanied by his family, cast his vote at the Bohni booth, while Congress candidate Dr Pushpendra Verma voted with his family at the Matani booth. Both candidates encouraged voters to turn out in large numbers, emphasizing the importance of participation in the democratic process.
The byelections are set to decide the fate of former independent MLAs KL Thakur (Nalagarh), Hoshyar Singh (Dehra) and Ashish Sharma (Hamirpur), all contesting on the BJP ticket, will be determined. It’s a do or die battle for them.
The elections hold substantial weight not only for the political future of these candidates, but also for the reputation of both Congress and BJP veterans. Chief Minister Sukhu’s wife is in the fray and her potential victory is expected to bolster Sukhu’s position in state politics.
A victory for the Congress in Hamirpur and Nalagarh would further solidify Sukhu’s standing. Conversely, a BJP victory in Hamirpur would be a significant triumph for Union Minister Anurag Thakur, silencing his critics.
Key political figures are closely tied to these elections, including opposition leader Jai Ram Thakur, BJP state president Dr Rajiv Bindal, Congress state president Pratibha Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri.
Despite the heated political tussle, the results of the byelections in Dehra, Hamirpur and Nalagarh do not currently pose a threat to the government. However, they are expected to provide both parties with new grounds for political manoeuvring.
