BJP Finalises Its Choices for Himachal’s Zila Parishad Candidates
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Himachal Pradesh has released its list of supported candidates for the forthcoming Zila Parishad (District Council) elections being held under the Panchayati Raj Institutions system.
Sharing the decision through a press statement, State Election Convener Vipin Singh Parmar said the party would back its authorised candidates even though these local body polls are not fought on party symbols. According to BJP leaders, the candidate selection focused on commitment to the organisation, experience in public service, regional representation, and acceptance at the grassroots level. The move contrasts with the Indian National Congress’s approach, as it has chosen not to name official candidates and has instead left the contest open to independents.
In the Mahasu organisational district, the BJP has supported several candidates across different wards. These include Vikesh from Ghorna, Rekha from Tyawal‑Jubari, Mamta Azad from Jhakri, Shivram from Neran, and Neha Thakur from Tiyali, among others.
The party has also announced a slate of candidates in Kangra district, such as Om Sharma from Chari, Bindu from Mantrayan, and Satish Chaudhary from Jhikli Itti. In Kullu district, BJP-backed candidates include Thakur Das from Vashisht, Kamlesh Kumari from Jetha, and Nisha Thakur from Mohal.
For the Nurpur organisational district, names like Anoop Rana from Bhadwar, Ajay Singh from Baranda, and Abhimanyu Kanwar from Sheikhpur have been finalised. In Bilaspur, the party has declared candidates for 13 wards, naming Jamna Devi from Ghandalvi, Jarnail Singh from Rohal, and Lekhram Thakur from Jukhala, while the candidate for Badgaon ward will be announced later.
Hamirpur district will see BJP-supported candidates in 19 wards, including Tripta Devi from Bir Baghera, Ajay Sharma from Jahu, and Neelam Chaudhary from Saproh. In Chamba, the party has chosen Sunita Kumari from Kariyas, Jaswant Singh from Sanwal, and Natasha Jaryal from Vyana.
The Solan district list features Meenakshi Thakur from Darla, Kirpal Chand from Dharampur, and Gurpreet Kaur Chandel from Damota. In Sirmaur, the BJP has extended support to Hansraj from Nohradhar, Ankita Thakur from Danaghato, and Charanjit Singh from Pataliyon. The Dehra organisational district includes Ashok Kumar from Barakalan and Aarti Rana from Adhwani.
In Una, candidates backed by the party include Pawan Jeet Singh from Mubarakpur, Anita Devi from Lathiani, and Gurmukh Singh from Bhanjal Lower. The tribal districts have also seen announcements, with Rub Devi from Udaipur in Lahaul‑Spiti and Jambal Dorje from Pooh in Kinnaur among those named.
Mandi district candidates include Kehar Singh Chauhan from Bhagayad and Sanjay Rawat from Behal. In the Palampur organisational district, the BJP has chosen Jagatsa Devi from Gadhiyara and Arjun Singh from Nachhir Bandla, while the Sundernagar organisational district list includes Kamal Singh Thakur from Sanvidhar and Shakuntala Devi from Churag.
Party leaders said the extensive consultation process was aimed at strengthening grassroots representation and ensuring a strong organisational presence in local governance. With the elections approaching, the Zila Parishad polls are expected to see keen contests between BJP-supported candidates and independents across Himachal Pradesh.
