Rebel Candidates Add Twist to Himachal’s Urban Polls as Campaign Heats Up
The battle for control of urban local bodies in Himachal Pradesh has entered an intense phase, with rebel candidates from both the BJP and the Congress adding an extra layer of uncertainty to the electoral contest. With the withdrawal of nominations now complete, as many as 16 rebel candidates — 10 from the BJP and six from the Congress — remain in the race, worrying party strategists ahead of polling on May 17.
According to the State Election Commission, a total of 1,147 candidates are contesting elections across 51 urban local bodies in the state. Voting will take place using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) from 7 am to 3 pm on May 17.
The impact of dissent within party ranks is most visible in the four municipal corporations, where elections are being held on party symbols. In the Solan Municipal Corporation, two rebel candidates each from the BJP and the Congress are contesting as independents. Dharamshala has two BJP rebels in the fray, while Mandi has emerged as the most complex battleground, with six BJP rebels and four Congress rebels contesting independently.
In total, 1,426 nomination papers were initially filed for the civic polls across the state. After scrutiny, 32 nominations were rejected and 1,394 declared valid. Subsequently, 237 candidates withdrew their nominations, leaving 1,147 candidates in the final contest.
With the nomination process over, election campaigning has picked up pace in urban areas. Candidates are actively reaching out to voters through door-to-door visits and public meetings. Local issues such as development works, sanitation, water supply, road infrastructure, and overall civic amenities are dominating campaign discussions.
Interestingly, 10 wards across districts including Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla have already elected their representatives unopposed. However, some unusual situations have also emerged. In Ward No. 7 of Karsog Nagar Panchayat in Mandi district, no nomination papers were filed at all. In another rare case, all candidates who had filed nominations in Ward No. 14 of the Mandi Municipal Corporation later withdrew from the contest.
District-wise figures show Kangra leading with the highest number of contestants at 218, followed by Mandi with 180. Shimla has 123 candidates, Solan 121, Una 118, Kullu 100, Bilaspur 87, Sirmaur 84, Chamba 72, and Hamirpur 44 candidates in the fray.
In the Solan Municipal Corporation, 42 candidates are contesting, including 17 from the Congress, 16 from the BJP, and nine independents. One BJP nomination was rejected during scrutiny, while among the independents are two rebels each from the BJP and Congress.
The Palampur Municipal Corporation has 34 candidates, with both the BJP and Congress fielding 15 candidates each, along with four independents. Dharamshala has the largest contest among the corporations, with 54 candidates — 17 each from the BJP and Congress, alongside 20 independents.
As polling day draws closer, the presence of rebel candidates and independents is expected to play a decisive role, potentially influencing margins and reshaping outcomes in several key urban seats across Himachal Pradesh.
