The Bharatiya Janata Party has taken complete control of the Dharamshala Municipal Corporation in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district after sweeping the mayor and deputy mayor elections. Both BJP candidates were declared elected unopposed after the Congress neither fielded contenders for either post nor took part in the voting process. Ward No. 2 councillor Shamsher Singh Nehria was elected mayor unanimously, while ward No. 8 councillor Prerna Guleria was chosen as deputy mayor.
City erupts in celebration, victory march held
As soon as the results were announced, BJP workers broke into celebrations across Dharamshala. Supporters danced to the beat of dhol drums, burst firecrackers and fed each other sweets. A grand victory procession was taken out through the city, with BJP flags fluttering at several spots. Slogans of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and BJP Zindabad rang out through the area. Senior party leaders, office bearers from the Kangra district unit, elected public representatives and a large number of workers joined the march.
How the numbers stack up in the corporation
The Dharamshala Municipal Corporation has a total of 17 councillors, of whom 11 belong to the BJP, 5 to the Congress, and one is an independent. The BJP had already named Shamsher Nehria and Prerna Guleria as its candidates for mayor and deputy mayor respectively before the election, leaving little doubt over the eventual outcome given the party's numerical strength.
Election completed with 12 councillors present
District Magistrate and District Election Officer Hemraj Bairwa said the election process began at 3 pm as per the scheduled programme. Only one nomination paper was filed for each of the two posts. Both nominations were found valid on scrutiny, following which the 12 councillors present unanimously declared both candidates elected. Bairwa clarified that since this was not the corporation's first meeting, the quorum requirement did not apply. He said the entire election process was conducted peacefully and in accordance with the rules. Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa subsequently administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly elected mayor Shamsher Nehria and deputy mayor Prerna Guleria, after which both formally took charge of their duties.
Sudhir Sharma: development will be the top priority
Dharamshala MLA and former minister Sudhir Sharma said the BJP's core mantra has always been development, and the new municipal corporation will give fresh momentum to the city's development work. He said the central government has assured positive cooperation in completing the Smart City projects that remain unfinished. According to him, projects currently underway will be completed under all circumstances, while discussions on the remaining ones will continue at the central level. The victory has also significantly boosted the political standing of BJP MLA Sudhir Sharma in Dharamshala.
Pawan Kajal: this is a trailer for 2027
BJP state vice president and Kangra MLA Pawan Kajal described the win as a trailer for the 2027 assembly elections. Thanking the people of Dharamshala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the state leadership, he said the responsibility handed to him by the party leadership had been successfully carried out with the support of party workers. He said the growing public support for the BJP in the Zila Parishad, Panchayat Samiti and municipal corporation elections shows that people in the state are disappointed with the Congress government. He alleged that guarantees such as Rs 1,500 for women, 300 units of free electricity, purchase of cow dung and one lakh jobs remain unfulfilled, which is why the public is now placing its trust in the BJP.
Bikram Thakur takes aim at Congress
Former minister and BJP MLA Bikram Thakur said the BJP's full strength stood united behind the party, which is what allowed the mayor and deputy mayor to be elected unopposed. He alleged that the Congress backed out of the contest altogether, which he said exposed its weak political position. Reacting to the ongoing investigations into encroachment cases, he called them a sign of Congress's frustration and claimed that BJP's public representatives would be proven completely clean. Targeting Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's style of functioning, he said this is precisely why the Congress will not be able to return to power in the state for a long time. He also claimed the BJP would sweep the upcoming Zila Parishad president and vice president elections with a hundred percent win.
New mayor, deputy mayor make their pledge
Newly elected mayor Shamsher Singh Nehria said he would work with all councillors for the overall development of Dharamshala. Deputy mayor Prerna Guleria promised to give top priority to cleanliness in the city, expansion of basic infrastructure and the interests of citizens. BJP leaders described the victory as an important milestone in Dharamshala's politics, saying the mandate received in the municipal corporation is the public's stamp of approval on the politics of development, and that it will give the organisation renewed strength going forward.
