Himachal Pradesh Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 7: Key battlegrounds and candidates for June 1 polls

Himachal Pradesh Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 7: Himachal Pradesh is set to vote for its four Lok Sabha seats—Kangra, Hamirpur, Mandi, and Shimla—on Friday, June 1, as part of the seventh phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is aiming for a hat-trick by securing all four seats once again, while the ruling Congress hopes to build on its success in the 2022 assembly elections and make significant gains in these parliamentary contests.

According to data from the Election Commission, over 1.70 lakh young voters aged 18 to 19 years will be casting their ballots for the first time, adding a new dynamic to the electoral landscape.

Key Battles in Himachal Pradesh Constituencies

Mandi
Mandi is a high-profile constituency to watch in this election. The BJP has fielded actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut against Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh. The seat is currently held by Vikramaditya Singh's mother, Pratibha Singh. Ranaut has emphasised infrastructure development, particularly highways and tunnels, in her campaign, aligning her plans closely with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. In contrast, Singh has criticised Ranaut for her lack of understanding and connection to the state's issues, questioning her dedication to addressing local concerns.

Hamirpur
Hamirpur will see a contest between four-time BJP MP Anurag Thakur and Congress leader Satpal Singh Raizada. This seat has long been a BJP stronghold, with Thakur's father, Prem Kumar Dhumal, also having served as MP. In the 2019 elections, Thakur won decisively with 682,692 votes (69%), far ahead of Congress' Ram Lal Thakur, who received 283,120 votes (28.6%).

Kangra
In Kangra, former Union minister and Congress leader Anand Sharma is up against BJP's Dr. Rajeev Bharadwaj, nephew of former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar. In the last election, BJP's Kishan Kapoor, who is currently unwell, defeated Congress candidate Pawan Kajal by a significant margin of 477,623 votes. The contest this year is expected to be closely fought.

Shimla
Shimla will witness a fierce battle as the BJP and Congress field their sitting MP and MLA, respectively. The Congress has nominated Vinod Sultanpuri, the current MLA from Kasauli and son of six-time MP Krishan Dutt Sultanpuri. He will challenge the incumbent MP and former BJP state president, Suresh Kashyap. Historically, the Congress has dominated this seat, winning nine out of fourteen elections since 1967, while the BJP has won three times, and the Janata Party and Himachal Vikas Congress have each won once.

The counting of votes for all these constituencies will take place on June 4, marking the conclusion of a closely watched electoral phase in Himachal Pradesh.