Tight contest looms for Shimla ZP Chairmanship after tense oath-taking ceremony
Shimla, June 6,
Political equations in the newly elected Shimla Zila Parishad (ZP) remain fluid, with both the BJP and Congress scrambling to secure support ahead of the election for the ZP chairman and vice-chairman.
The uncertainty was accompanied by high drama during the oath-taking ceremony on Friday, where a confrontation between BJP leaders and the administration briefly created tension.
The 25-member Shimla Zila Parishad was elected on a non-party basis. However, both major political parties have openly staked claim over the loyalties of the elected members.
BJP leaders claim the support of 12 councillors, while Congress is said to have the backing of 10. Three councillors were elected as independents.
Political observers believe the chairman’s election could be a close contest, as councillors are free to vote according to their choice regardless of perceived party affiliation. Sources indicate that two independent councillors, who are believed to be BJP rebels, may eventually support the BJP, while another councillor is reportedly leaning towards Congress.
Congress, which has controlled the Shimla ZP for the past 15 years, convened a meeting of councillors associated with the party at its office immediately after the oath-taking ceremony to discuss its strategy for the upcoming election.
The oath-taking event itself witnessed controversy after police reportedly asked BJP Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Mahajan and other party leaders to leave the venue.
The move triggered protests by BJP workers, leading to a brief standoff with the police. Deputy Commissioner Shimla Anupam Kashyap was escorted out of the venue by security personnel amid the protests.
The BJP is keen to end Congress’s long dominance in the district body and is considering newly elected councillor Karan Singh, a member of the erstwhile Junga royal family, as a possible chairman candidate. Harsh Mahajan has been actively involved in efforts to consolidate support for the BJP-backed camp.
The ZP results also reflected shifting political fortunes in the district. The BJP performed strongly in Kasumpti Assembly constituency, winning two ZP seats, while Congress failed to retain the Baldiyana ward despite representation from Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh.
BJP leaders view the result as a significant breakthrough in a constituency where the party has struggled for decades and has not won an Assembly election since the days of former MLA Roop Das Kashyap.
Within Congress circles, Education Minister Rohit Thakur is being credited for helping the party secure 10 seats, while several senior leaders, including Mohan Lal Bragta, Kuldeep Singh Rathore, Nand Lal and Vikramaditya Singh, are believed to have fallen short of expectations in their respective areas.
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During the late Virbhadra Singh era, the Shimla Zila Parishad was considered a Congress stronghold, with leaders from Rampur holding the chairman’s post continuously for three consecutive terms. Meanwhile, the CPI(M), despite contesting four ZP seats, failed to open its account.
With the chairman’s election expected in the coming days and independent councillors holding the balance of power, political observers believe the contest could swing either way.
The possibility of support from councillors backed by Left groups may further complicate the arithmetic, making the race for control of the district’s highest rural local body one of the most closely watched political battles in Himachal Pradesh.
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