The Anni
Assembly Constituency has Lokendra Kumar of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP),
Bansi Lal Kaushal from the Indian National Congress (INC), Inder Paul of the
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Devki Nand of the Communist Party of India Marxist CPI(M) contesting for this year’s Himachal Pradesh Assembly Elections.

Himachal
Pradesh has largely been a two-party contest between the BJP and Congress.
Since 1985, the state has been alternately governed by Congress and the BJP.
The BJP hopes to break the cycle, while Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP is trying to make
a significant dent in the state’s political landscape. 

Also Read: Assembly polls: Gujarat transfers over 900 officials after EC rap; 51 yet to be moved

The BJP had
won 44 of Himachal’s 68 assembly constituencies last time and the Congress had
won 21. The CPI (M) had won one seat. To form the government in the state, a
party needs to win 35 seats for a majority.

In 2017,
Kishori Lal of the BJP won the seat by defeating his closest rival Paras Ram of
the INC with a margin of 5,983 votes. Lokender Kumar of the Communist Party of
India Marxist CPI (M) also contested the 2017 election. 

Anni is one
of the 68 assembly constituencies in Himachal Pradesh. Anni falls
under the Kullu district and Mandi Lok Sabha Constituency. Anni has
more than 85,000 eligible voters. This constituency is reserved for Scheduled
Caste candidates. 

In 2012,
Khub Ram of the Congress defeated of Kishori Lal of BJP by 1,662 votes. Nand
Lal of Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP), Jai Singh of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and
an independent candidate Ishwar Dass also contested the HP Assembly Elections
in 2012. 

Himachal
Pradesh votes in a single round on November 12. Results will be announced on
December 8. Elections to the Gujarat assembly are also expected to be held in
December this year. 

Quick facts
about the Anni Assembly seat  

Name of the
assembly constituency, district: Anni, Kullu district

Polling date:
November 12, 2022

Sitting MLA,
party: Kishori Lal, BJP

Key
candidates, party in 2022: Lokendra Kumar (BJP), Bansi Lal Kaushal (INC), Inder
Paul (AAP), Devki Nand (CPIM)

Winning
candidate, party in 2017: Kishori Lal, BJP

Runner-up
name, party 2017:  Paras Ram, INC

Winning margin
in 2017: 5,983 

Top 3
candidates 2017:  Kishori Lal (BJP), Paras Ram (INC), Lokender Kumar (CPIM)

Top 3
candidates 2012: Kishori Lal (BJP), Khub Ram (INC), Nand Lal (HLP)

Lok Sabha
constituency: Mandi