Congress Returns to Power in Himachal Pradesh
Congress won back power in Himachal Pradesh, defeating a Bharatiya Janata Party government that had governed for a single term.
Congress Returns to Power in Himachal Pradesh
What happened
Bharatiya Janata Party lost power in Himachal Pradesh, and the Indian National Congress returned to government.
The INC won 40 of the 68 seats.
That was on 43.9% of the vote — the slice of all ballots cast that went to one party or candidate.
The BJP finished second, with 25 seats.
The campaign
The Aam Aadmi Party opened its campaign early, with a roadshow in Mandi on 6 April 2022 led by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.1
Congress Working Committee member Pawan Kumar Kajal and MLA Lakhvinder Singh Rana joined the BJP in August 2022. Himachal Pradesh Congress working president Harsh Mahajan joined the BJP on 28 September 2022.23
The Election Commission announced the poll schedule on 14 October 2022, setting polling for 12 November and counting for 8 December. Congress opened its own campaign the same day, with a 'Parivartan Pratigya Rally' in Solan addressed by Priyanka Gandhi.45
On 30 October 2022 the BJP deployed 30 campaigners to hold simultaneous rallies across all 68 constituencies.6
The AAP's manifesto pledged 300 units of free electricity to every household. On 4 November, Priyanka Gandhi promised a Congress government would restore the Old Pension Scheme in its first cabinet meeting.78
- 1AAP Launches Himachal Campaign with Kejriwal-Mann Roadshow in Mandi — 2022 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election
- 2Two Senior Congress MLAs Defect to BJP — 2022 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election
- 3Former Congress State Working President Harsh Mahajan Joins BJP — 2022 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election
- 4Election Commission Announces Himachal Pradesh Poll Schedule — 2022 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election
- 5Congress Opens Campaign with 'Parivartan Pratigya Rally' in Solan — 2022 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election
- 6BJP Holds Simultaneous Rallies Across All 68 Constituencies — 2022 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election
- 7AAP Manifesto Pledges 300 Units of Free Electricity — 2022 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election
- 8Priyanka Gandhi Pledges Old Pension Scheme Restoration — 2022 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election
What changed
Power changed hands, with most of the movement flowing in one direction.
31 of the state's 68 constituencies changed hands from the previous election.
23 of those flipped from the BJP to the INC.
INC itself grew from 21 to 40 seats.
Turnout, the share of registered voters who actually cast a ballot, rose +0.1 pp to 75.4% — the highest this state has recorded.
Notable numbers
The closest race was at Bhoranj, Himachal Pradesh, decided by 60 votes.
Doon, Himachal Pradesh recorded the highest turnout of any seat, 85.8%.
Jogindernagar, Himachal Pradesh drew the most candidates of any seat, 11 names on the ballot.
NOTA — None of the Above, a ballot option letting voters formally reject every candidate on offer — drew 24,861 votes statewide, 0.6% of the total.
The backdrop
Himachal Pradesh became a full state in January 1971, and its assembly grew to a 68-seat house at the election that followed.9
- 9Himachal Pradesh Becomes India's 18th State — State of Himachal Pradesh Act, 1970, 1972 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election