The Jaswan-Pragpur Assembly Constituency has Bikram Thakur of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Surinder Singh Mankotia from the Indian National Congress (INC) and Sahil Chauhan of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in a three-way contest for this year’s Himachal Pradesh Assembly Elections.
Since 1985, the state has been cyclically governed by the Congress and the BJP. The BJP hopes to break the cycle, while Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP hopes to make a dent in the state’s political landscape.
Also Read: Gujarat Assembly polls: BJP begins process for selection of candidates
The BJP had won 44 of Himachal’s 68 assembly constituencies last time and the Congress bagged 21. A party needs to win at least 35 seats for a majority to form the government in the state.
In 2017, Bikram Thakur of the BJP won the seat by defeating his closest rival Surinder Singh Mankotia of Congress with a margin of 1,862 votes. Hoshiar Singh from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and independents Hans Raj, Gagan Deep Prashar, Mujesh Kumar, Anup Kumar, Amit Kumar and Om Prakash also contested the election.
Jaswan-Pragpur is one of the 68 assembly constituencies in Himachal Pradesh. Jaswan-Pragpur falls under the Kangra district and Hamirpur Lok Sabha Constituency. Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituency is one of the four Lok Sabha constituencies in Himachal Pradesh. BJP leader, Anurag Thakur is the Member of Parliament from Hamirpur Lok Sabha Constituency. Jaswan-Pragpur has more than 77,000 eligible voters.
In 2012, Bikram Singh of BJP defeated Nikhil Rajour of INC by 6,093 votes. Rajinder Singh of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Bhag Singh Rana of Samajwadi Party (SP), Naveen Dhiman of Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP), Rajinder Kumar of All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), Dinesh Kumar of Himachal Swabhiman Party (HSP) and independent candidate Om Prakash 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 Jaswan-Pragpur Assembly seat
Name of the assembly constituency, district: Jaswan-Pragpur, Kangra district
Polling date: November 12, 2022
Sitting MLA, party: Bikram Thakur, BJP
Key candidates, party in 2022: Bikram Thakur (BJP), Sahil Chauhan (AAP), Surinder Singh Mankotia (INC)
Winning candidate, party in 2017: Bikram Thakur, BJP
Runner-up name, party 2017: Surinder Singh Mankotia, INC
Winning margin in 2017: 1,862
Top 3 candidates 2017: Hans Raj (Independent), Surinder Singh Mankotia (INC), Bikram Thakur (BJP)
Top 3 candidates 2012: Bikram Singh (BJP), Nikhil Rajour (INC), Naveen Dhiman (HLP)
Lok Sabha constituency: Hamirpur
