As many as 17 candidates have filed their nominations for the upcoming Dharamsala Municipal Corporation (MC) elections, according to officials. The last date for filing nominations is set for next week, with scrutiny and withdrawal scheduled thereafter.
Major Parties in Fray
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress party have announced their candidates for various wards. Independent candidates have also entered the race, making the contest multi-cornered in several wards. The election is being closely watched as it is the first municipal poll after the recent delimitation of wards.
Key Candidates
Among the prominent candidates are former councillors and local business leaders. The BJP has fielded five candidates, while Congress has put up four. The remaining eight are independents or from smaller parties. The election is expected to be a litmus test for the ruling party in the state.
Election Schedule
The polling is scheduled for next month, with counting of votes to take place a few days later. The State Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the polls, including the deployment of security forces.
Voter Awareness Campaign
The district administration has launched a voter awareness campaign to ensure maximum turnout. Officials said that all necessary facilities would be provided at polling stations, including ramps for differently-abled voters and separate queues for senior citizens.
The Dharamsala MC has 15 wards, and the elections are being held after a gap of nearly five years. The last elections were held in 2017, and the term of the previous body ended in 2022. The elections were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent administrative issues.
Political Significance
Political analysts view these elections as a crucial indicator of public sentiment ahead of the next assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh. The winning party will control the development agenda in the tourist town, which is also the winter capital of the state.
