Cong regains lost ground in Solan, Sirmaur, Chamba

SHIMLA: Even as the overall result of the zila parishad ZP elections indicate major gains for the ruling Congress in Solan and Sirmaur the outcome has jolted some sitting MLAs of the Congress and the BJP as their political heirs have tasted defeat

Updated At : 06:51 AM Jan 09, 2016 IST

Health Minister Kaul Singh’s daughter Champa Thakur is all smiles after winning the ZP poll from Dhanyara in Mandi.

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 8

Even as the overall result of the zila parishad (ZP) elections indicate major gains for the ruling Congress in Solan and Sirmaur, the outcome has jolted some sitting MLAs of the Congress and the BJP as their political heirs have tasted defeat.

While the Congress has done well in Solan, Sirmaur, Shimla, Bilaspur, Chamba, the BJP has got lead in Kullu, Kinnaur and Una.

While in Mandi, the Congress seems to have only a slight edge, there is a good news for the ruling party from the home district of former chief minister PK Dhumal, where the Congress has improved its tally from three ZP seats to six. The Congress has won Samirpur seat for the third time.

Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur proved his political mettle as his daughter Champa Thakur won the ZP elections. With the post of ZP chairperson of Mandi being reserved for women, she stands a bright chance of getting it. Amit Bharmouri, son of Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri, also won the ZP elections.

Ayurveda Minister Karan Singh suffered a jolt as his son and a political debutant, Aditya Vikram Singh, lost the ZP elections to his cousin Hiteshwar Singh, son of Himachal Lokhit Party chief and Kullu MLA Maheshwar Singh. The son of Deputy Speaker of the Assembly Jagat Singh Negi has lost Kinnaur seat.

Sumender Thakur, son of sitting MLA and former revenue minister Gulab Singh and brother-in-law of Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur, has lost Jogindernagar seat. He was defeated by Jogindernagar block Congress president Jeevan Thakur. Dharampur legislator and former BJP minister Mahender Singh suffered a setback as his daughter Vandana Guleria and son-in-law Sanjeev Bhandari has tasted defeat.

Even as both the parties claimed victory of their candidates as the elections were not fought on party symbols, the Congress seems to have an edge over the BJP. Senior leaders of both the parties have already started lobbying to capture the post of ZP chairperson for their supporters. In Kangra, the elections will be held on January 10 while in Lahaul-Spiti, it will be held later.